Pittosporum Tenuifolium 'Screen Master'

Screenmaster Pittosporum

Botanical Name: Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Screen Master'
Family: Pittosporaceae
Origin: New Zealand
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

Purpose-bred for dense hedging and privacy in Adelaide and South Australian gardens, ‘Screen Master’ forms a fast, upright wall of foliage with minimal fuss. Its fresh lime-green new growth quickly matures to glossy mid-green, holding colour well in heat and coastal breeze. Small chocolate-purple, lightly scented flowers appear in late spring—subtle up close, but the foliage is the real star.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 3–5 m H × 2–3 m W (clips easily to 2–3 m high hedges)
• Growth Rate: 40-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Fine-textured, glossy mid-green leaves with bright lime tints on new growth; may show soft bronze tints in cold/wind
• Flowers: Small deep purple-brown, lightly fragrant blooms late spring–early summer
• Seasonal Interest: Year-round evergreen screen; flushes of lime new growth in the warmer months; light evening fragrance in late spring
• Wildlife Value: Attracts Bees when flowering; provides shelter/nesting sites for small birds (Good for garden biodiversity)
• Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Wind-Tolerant, Coastal-Tolerant (sheltered), Frost Hardy (light–moderate), Clay-Tolerant if soil is well-drained/improved
• Planting Density: Hedge: 0.8–1.0 m apart (or 0.6–0.7 m for very tight/windy sites). Specimen: 1.5–2.0 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Generally regarded as non-toxic to pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best density and colour in sun)
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or improved clay
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Tip-prune 2–3×/year to keep a tight screen and stimulate fresh colour; mulch in spring; balanced feed in early spring
• Lifespan: 15-25 years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA, including coastal Adelaide
• Soil pH: Acid, Neutral, Alkaline (prefers slightly acidic–neutral with good drainage)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Boundary privacy hedge that establishes fast and clips cleanly for a polished Adelaide streetscape
• Wind-filtered screen along driveways or exposed sides without the bulk of larger trees
• Evergreen backdrop for feature plants—contrasts well with nandina, westringia and lomandra

Why You Will Love It

‘Screen Master’ delivers a dense, good-looking hedge quickly, thrives in South Australian heat and coastal conditions, and needs only occasional clipping to stay perfect. Expect fresh lime flushes, glossy year-round cover and a subtle spring fragrance—all with low maintenance.