Practical
Plants

Pittosporum phillyreoides

Weeping Pittosporum

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Pittosporum genus in the family Pittosporaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
4.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This plant contains saponins[5][6]. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans, and although they are fairly toxic to people they are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down if the food is thoroughly cooked for a long time. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - dried and ground into a powder[12][2][8]. Very bitter[11][4][9]. A good edible gum is obtained from this plant[4][8]. It oozes from wounded branches[9].

Product or use
Gum
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Antispasmodic, antipruritic, galactogogue. Used in the treatment of eczema, pruritis and colds.

Product or use
Antipruritic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Galactogogue

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant contains saponins. These have the potential to be used as soap or as a bird repellent. Since they are very bitter they can be sprayed over plants that you do not want the birds to eat. The saponins are easily removed by washing or the next rain shower. Wood - close grained, very hard. Used for turnery, cabinet making etc[6].

Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Soap
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria.
Habitat
Dry land away from the coast[5]. Often in extremely dry areas[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow when ripe in the autumn or in late winter in a warm greenhouse[13][10]. The seed usually germinates freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, move the plants to a cold frame as soon as they are established and plant out late in the following spring[13]. Consider giving them some protection from the cold during their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Poor to fair percentage[13]. Basal ripewood cuttings late autumn in a cold frame[10].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained light loamy soil, succeeding in very dry soils[3][7]. Requires a sunny position[10]. Plants tolerate much wetter conditions in cultivation than they experience in their native habitat[7]. Not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[10]. Plants succeed outdoors in Cornwall though they need greenhouse protection in other parts of the country[1]. A slow growing plant[7]. Very amenable to pruning, plants can be cut right back into old wood if required[10]. The species in this genus are very likely to hybridize with other members of the genus[10]. When growing a species from seed it is important to ensure that the seed either comes from a known wild source, or from isolated specimens in cultivation. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

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  5. Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2

  6. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

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  7. Holliday. I. and Hill. R. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller Ltd. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-85179-627-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩1↩2

  9. Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8

    ↩1↩2

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

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