Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Irene Patterson'
Irene Patterson Pittosporum
- Family
- Pittosporaceae
- Height
- 8 to 12 feet
- Width
- 6 to 10 feet
- Flower color
- Small deep purple to reddish purple flowers; lightly fragrant
- Foliage color
- Small glossy oval leaves marbled green and creamy white
- Bloom time
- Late spring; often May to June
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate moisture during the growing season
- Maintenance
- Low; prune lightly to shape and maintain a dense compact habit and remove reverted green shoots
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7 to 10
- Wildlife
- Bees and other pollinating insects
About this plant
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Irene Patterson' produces small, dark maroon to near-black flowers in late spring, the blooms releasing a light honey fragrance as they open along the slender stems. The blossoms appear among variegated leaves marked with irregular creamy white and soft green mottling across the surface. The oval foliage has gently wavy margins and is carried on dark stems, creating a layered pattern of light and shadow throughout the plant.
This cultivar traces its heritage to Pittosporum tenuifolium native to New Zealand. In gardens it provides evergreen structure for borders, hedges, and sheltered plantings where the mottled foliage adds year-round color and texture.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Hedging & Privacy · Borders · Pollinator Gardens
Companion plants
Peony · Cotoneaster · Wallflower · Fountain grass · Tickseed · Escallonia
Design tip
Make the variegation a focal feature by setting ‘Irene Patterson’ against a visually simple backdrop, where its irregular cream-and-green pattern can remain distinct. Pink tones that develop in cooler weather introduce an additional seasonal layer to the evergreen display.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Washington Park Arboretum.
