Pittosporum ten. 'Tom Thumb' 3 Ltr pot

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’ is a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub valued for its neat, rounded habit and richly coloured foliage. The small leaves emerge green and deepen to a glossy purple, developing their best colour in good light. Discreet, dark purple-brown flowers may appear in late spring to early summer. Ideal for low hedging, borders and containers, it thrives in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or light shade, and benefits from a sheltered position in Ireland, especially away from cold, drying winds; it also suits milder coastal gardens.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Full sun or light shade; sheltered from cold, drying winds

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Fertile, moist but well-drained

Hardiness: Hardy to around −10°C; best in a sheltered site

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Plant at a Glance