Pittosporum Tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen'
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Kohuhu / Sliver Sheen Pittosporum
Botanical Name: Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen'
Family: Pittosporaceae
Origin: New Zealand
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Overview
A premium screening shrub for Adelaide and South Australian gardens, ‘Silver Sheen’ is prized for its tiny, silvery-grey leaves on dark stems that create a luminous, airy hedge. It establishes quickly, keeps a naturally upright form, and clips cleanly for tight boundaries or soft, semi-transparent screens. Small, chocolate-purple blooms add a light evening scent in late spring, but the shimmering foliage is the hero year-round.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 3–5 m H × 2–3 m W (easily clipped smaller)
- Growth Rate: 40-60 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Minute, rounded silver-grey leaves on blackish stems; new growth pale silvery-lime; cool weather can bring soft bronze/olive tints
- Flowers: Small deep purple-brown, lightly scented (evenings) late spring–early summer
- Seasonal Interest: Year-round silvery shimmer with fresh lime flushes in warm months; subtle evening fragrance in late spring
- Wildlife Value: Attracts Bees when in bloom; shelter for small garden birds
- Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Wind-Tolerant, Coastal-Tolerant (salt breeze), Frost Hardy (light–moderate), Clay-Tolerant if drainage is good
- 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 tight and promote bright new growth; 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
- Narrow boundary hedge that stays light and luminous without feeling heavy or bulky
- Modern coastal screen with westringia and lomandra for a durable, water-wise palette
- Courtyard feature or container pair flanking entries where the silvery foliage can catch the light
Why You Will Love It
‘Silver Sheen’ delivers a fast, elegant screen with a unique silvery sparkle that lifts paths, driveways and boundaries across South Australia. It’s easy to keep neat, handles heat and coastal breeze, and adds subtle fragrance in season—all with minimal maintenance.