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pittosporum

pittosporum

1 9.9
A small bush or tree with shiny leaves and scented flowers
  • noun
  • /ˌpɪtəˈspɔːrəm/
  • Specialized
: pittosporo
  • She planted several pittosporum shrubs along the pathway to add beauty and fragrance to her garden.

Examples

  • When I had the large pittosporum removed to let some sunlight onto the main vegetable beds, the back deck suddenly opened up to the neighbor's main door and hanging out spot.

    Blog text (3)
  • The puppy began trotting off toward the back of the garden and disappeared behind one of the big brick planters of pittosporum.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Evergreen holly oak trees line the grassy strip, or mall, as does a hedge of Pittosporum tobira.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The garden was filled with colorful flowers and fragrant pittosporum, creating a lovely scent that wafted through the air.

  • In spring, the pittosporum blooms with small, fragrant flowers that attract many insects.

Synonyms

Buddleia
vspittosporum
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A shrub or small tree with scented, colorful flowers that attract butterflies

focuses more on attractive leaves and overall scent than vivid flower color
philadelphus
vspittosporum
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A shrub with white fragrant flowers often grown in gardens

is evergreen with lasting attractive foliage and fragrant blooms
Pogostemon
vspittosporum
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small Asian bushes and trees with scented leaves used to make perfume like patchouli

relies on flowers and foliage scent rather than leaf oil production

Surface Forms

pittosporum singular
pittosporums plural

Etymology

Pittosporum comes from Greek parts pitta ('pitch') and spora ('seed'), because the plant's seeds are sticky like pitch. So, the name points to the shrub's sticky seeds and helps you remember this fragrant garden plant.