Botanical name:

Pittosporum crassifolium

Common name(s):

Karo

About:

A small bushy tree, characterised by its greyish leathery oval leaves that are strikingly white on their undersides, thrives in various environments. This interesting tree produces clusters of small, dark red flowers, which are subsequently followed by large, hard, green fuzzy capsules that provide a unique visual contrast. The leaves, which typically measure between 5-7cm in length, often feature margins that are rolled under, adding to their distinctive appearance. The fruits of this tree, measuring about 2-3cm in width, have a fascinating mechanism; they split into three sections to reveal the glossy black seeds nestled within a bright yellow pith, contributing to the overall allure of this remarkable plant.

Natural habitat:

Coastal and offshore islands. Favouring steep slopes, cliff faces, boulder beaches, rock stacks and the margins of petrel burrowed land. Sometimes forms major canopy dominance on offshore islands, and on occasion can be a significant component of dune forest. Often an urban weed because its fruits/seeds are avidly taken by indigenous and exotic birds and dispersed widely.

Growing environment:

Frost, Drought, Salt, Wind & Coastal tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s Great Barrier and North Islands.

In the North indigenous from Te Paki south to about White Cliffs, and East Cape. Widely naturalised further south to Wellington & also naturalised in the South, Stewart and Chatham Islands, Norfolk Island, and in Hawaii.

Height: 5m

Flowering:

August – October with a Red/Pink or Violet/Purple coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

September - August (Old fruits persist on trees)

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Hedging.

How to grow:

Easy from fresh seed. Often appears spontaneously in gardens as the seed is distributed far and wide by exotic and indigenous birds. An attractive species popular for its fast growth, robust grey-green leaves, sweetly scented flowers and remarkable resilience in coastal areas. Although frost sensitive, once established it will tolerate moderate frosts and snow fall.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though