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Cistus Nursery

*RETAIL - Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Atropurpureum'

*RETAIL - Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Atropurpureum'

Though doubtless many purple-leaved forms have been introduced under the name Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Atropurpureum', this one is ours, grown from cuttings of the lovely 12 ft tall x 4 ft wide specimen in the garden of Western Hills Nursery in Northern California. The 1", rounded leaves, yes purple and held among black stems, and carnation-scented, nearly black flowers, might possibly sound morbid but are, in fact, dazzlingly beautiful. Plants, easily kept as a formal element or background hedge in the garden, are easily shorn to maintain even tighter shape. Prefers bright light or only dappled shade with regular summer water in dry climates. This has proven to be one of the frost hardiest cultivars, surviving 7F briefly in the garden at Western Hills in 1990 and having turned not a leaf with a windy 20F in our garden. Frost hardy to at least 10F, USDA zone 8; a container plant or an experiment in zone 7. 

PURPLE KOHUHU

Pittosporaceae

*THESE SIZES ONLY AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN OUR RETAIL NURSERY

Size

Retail Return Policy

Please choose your retail purchases thoughtfully as all plants are final sale.

Once plants leave our care we cannot know the conditions that might have affected the plant, stresses of handling, weather conditions or that playful kitten…

Providing you with healthy plant material is our mission and we trust you to provide the best research, handling, and garden environment to ensure success in your garden, whether in Portland, Oregon, or beyond.

If you have any questions about your purchase, please feel free to call or email us.

Planting Recommendations

Under most conditions, planting directly into the garden is best. Keep in mind, that in our care, plants have been protected from intense sunlight and drying winds and would therefore require sheltered transition time in order to acclimate to such conditions in your garden.

All plants going into containers (rather than in the ground) should be potted immediately in well-drained potting mix and watered well to ensure the soil is fully moistened with no air pockets. Succulent plants abide by different rules (**see below).

Plants held for later planting are best stored in a cool greenhouse or a well-lit garage or basement, rather than in your house where conditions are likely too warm and dry.

Those plants needing time to acclimate can be set out in pots and provided some shade and shelter for the first week to allow for a successful transition.

**For cacti and other succulents, we recommend using a soil mix of less than 30% organic matter, preferably a 2-1 blend of cactus/succulent potting soil and pumice, perlite or lava rock. These plants are sensitive to prolonged heavy moisture, especially in cool/winter conditions. Keep this in mind when watering them for the first time. It is better to leave them dry in lower temperatures.

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