page_title: Pittosporum tenuifolium
section_title: Garden plant
hierarchical_section_title: Pittosporum tenuifolium / Cultural uses / Garden plant
caption_attribution_description: English: A branch of kōhūhū
context_page_description: Pittosporum tenuifolium is a small evergreen tree – up to 10 m – commonly known as kōhūhū and black matipo, and by other Māori names kohukohu and tawhiwhi. Its small, very dark, reddish-purple flowers generally go unnoticed, and are scented only at night. The Latin tenuifolium means "slender-leaved"
context_section_description: Kōhūhū is a popular garden plant in New Zealand and overseas, often used a hedge or as visual backdrop. It is sometimes grown under the cultivar name 'Nigricans', so called because of its black stems. In horticulture it is valued for its coloured foliage (cultivated variations include purple, "silver" and variegated leaves), and for its tolerance of some horticulturally difficult growing conditions, including dry soils and shade (although in northwest Europe, cold and exposed situations do not suit it).
  Several hybrids and cultivars have been developed and five varieties won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit due to their ability to cope in the growing conditions of the United Kingdom:
  'Garnettii'
  'Irene Paterson'
  'Silver Queen'
  'Tom Thumb'
  'Warnham Gold'
caption: Kōhūhū tree with a close-up of a branch. Note the undulated leaves and black branches.
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