Japanese Cheesewood
Pittosporum tobira
Also listed as Euonymus tobira
Also known as Japanese Pittosporum, Japanese Mock-orange, Mock Orange
Climate Match for your location
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A dense, rounded evergreen shrub with glossy dark leaves and fragrant creamy-white flowers in spring. Popular as an ornamental and hedge plant in warm climates, it is also prized for its attractive foliage year-round.
Why grow it
Pittosporum tobira offers reliable year-round foliage and spring flowers in a compact form suitable for hedging, screening, or specimen planting in USDA zones 9-11. Compared to other evergreen shrubs like privet or boxwood, it tolerates a wider range of soil conditions and requires less frequent pruning to maintain an attractive shape, making it a lower-maintenance choice for warm-climate landscapes.
Watch out for
This plant prefers well-draining soil and consistent moisture during establishment; in poorly drained conditions it becomes susceptible to root rot. While it adapts to full sun or partial shade, flowering is most abundant in full sun locations, and plants in deep shade may become leggy over time.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Pittosporaceae
Native Range
Japan
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A dense, rounded evergreen shrub with glossy dark leaves and fragrant creamy-white flowers in spring. Popular as an ornamental and hedge plant in warm climates, it is also prized for its attractive foliage year-round.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Japanese Cheesewood grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Pittosporum tobira offers reliable year-round foliage and spring flowers in a compact form suitable for hedging, screening, or specimen planting in USDA zones 9-11. Compared to other evergreen shrubs like privet or boxwood, it tolerates a wider range of soil conditions and requires less frequent pruning to maintain an attractive shape, making it a lower-maintenance choice for warm-climate landscapes.
Watch out for
This plant prefers well-draining soil and consistent moisture during establishment; in poorly drained conditions it becomes susceptible to root rot. While it adapts to full sun or partial shade, flowering is most abundant in full sun locations, and plants in deep shade may become leggy over time.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Pittosporaceae
Native Range
Japan
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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