Pittosporum Tom Thumb

Pittosporum Tenuifolium Tom Thumb also known as Tawhiwhi Tom Thumb is great low level foliage shrub with neat leaves changing from golden green to purple as they get older. Small honey scented flowers in dark chocolate purple sometimes appear in July/August. Pittosporum Tom Thumb reaches a max height  of 1m.

Tawhiwhi Tom Thumb is a very popular petite, purple-leaved cultivar. With striking, evergreen foliage and a compact, bushy habit, this shrub is a great choice for small gardens or low-growing borders and hedges.

When it comes to choosing a perfect location for Pittosporum Tenuifolium Tom Thumb, choose a sheltered spot with a lot of sunlight. Although this cultivar fares well in partial shade, the foliage might not be as vivid and showy as it is when in full sun. Adaptable and versatile, this small shrub will thrive in any fertile, moist, but well-drained soil.

Fully hardy in all of the UK, this dwarf shrub can survive temperatures as low as -10 degrees. Same as other Pittosporum varieties, Tom Thumb cultivar needs sheltering from frost and winds, as it prefers mild climates. 

Prized for its miniature size and stunning, colour-changing foliage, this evergreen, dwarf shrub looks best in mixed shrub borders. When mature, its deep purple foliage will contrast the other shrubs and accentuate them, especially when planted alongside evergreen plants. When planted en masse, it makes for a low-growing border with multiple seasons of interest. The rounded, compact habit creates an impression of elegance, and the young, green growth combined with mature purple leaves adds drama to your garden. 

Other Pittosporum varieties include pittosporum tobira nana (the dwarf low growing variety of the pittosporum tobira) and pittosporum silver queen.

Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society, a sure sign that it will perform well in most gardens.