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Pittosporum Silver Queen

annieoconnor1JdA_LKiZannieoconnor1JdA_LKiZ Posts: 1
in Plants
I want to plant a Pittosporum Silver Queen in the back of the triangle section of my garden that was landscaped late last summer. Reasoning is that it will hide the miss match of fences all year round. Can't find a specimen higher than 90cm. My question is where could I source one twice that size. I am retired and would like it to be grown before I pop off  ;) Alternatively, how fast will it grow or can you think of a good alternative? Thank you

Posts

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    In general smaller plants establish better and get away quicker. I'm not familiar with that particular cultivar but if you look at height and spread on the description,  that is usually the size it will get to in approximately ten years,that will give a clue to how fast it will grow.
    AB Still learning

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I planted this Silver Queen about 25 yrs ago
    I'd say it's fairly slow growing compared to many shrubs, but it's worth the wait.







    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Are you in the south of the country? It might be worth while ringing Hilliers to see if they can help. You do see large specimens sometimes in the Garden Centres but it can be hit and miss if you just turn up looking for one. When it is planted it won't seem so tall as it appeared in the pot.
    If you live further north I would be cautious purchasing a large specimen as they can suffer if we have a hard frost.  You will also have to water any new shrubs throughout next year until autumn if the weather is as dry as 2022.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @annieoconnor1JdA_LKiZ Just an update I did see a Pittosporum Silver Queen at a local Garden Centre yesterday.
    It was 3ft tall and £40.00 phew! They are slow as said so hence the price. If you choose something faster growing it will be cheaper but you could finish up paying to get it cut back because it gets too big! 
    A large specimen has been cared a long time hence the price.

    At the same GC the had P Tom Thumb, they looked dreadful the cold winter winds had caused them to defoliate but they were still full price.

    I agree with @Allotment Boy a smaller shrub will often settle and grow more quickly than a larger one.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I have two Pittosporum Silver Queens.  My mother and I each bought one which we had in pots outside of our respective back doors.  This was about 25 years ago.  When she died I brought hers home and planted both in the garden, one in the back, one in the front.  That was about 16 years ago.  Neither are as tall as yours yet @Pete.8 but they are trees and I adore them!  They also don't mind having the odd branch lopped off.  One of them sends up shoots from the base, which I cut off to use in flower vases.  
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @didyw I think this is a great example of a shrub that does so much better in the South.
    I have been amazed at some of the photos posted huge specimens. Something you won't see locally to me.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    @GardenerSuze like many trees and shrubs, I suspect, pittosporum is hardier than one imagines, at least once established. I inherited a variegated p. heteropylla that is planted in a frost pocket. It regularly shrugs off winter freezes down to -8c. It does grow really fast in my warmer climate.

    Not a great photo but it’s the pale silvery coloured multi-stem shrub behind the salvia amistad. It’s since had a severe haircut and the offending cypress goldcrest growing through it removed!

    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Nollie That is a beautiful photo thankyou for sharing.  I particularly like the colour combination.

     A lot of the gardens near here have a heavy clay soil, years ago bricks were made locally. This type of soil doesn't help. The P Tom Thumb that I mentioned earlier in the thread were in a bad way, a combination of cold winds, frost and wet weather which we experienced last year the cause. I don't see anyone buying them.

    Last spring I did plant my first P. Golf Ball and it does seem to be doing OK.  Perhaps the green leaves ones are hardier?

    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Heavy, rocky clay soil here too Suze, that pittosporum is planted in a very inhospitable place and has never been fed or watered. Many variegated plant cultivars do seem to be more tender but not this one, it seems. I’m also wondering if the heterophylla types are faster growing in general or if it’s just my hot summers that causes such rampant growth. No idea!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I bought 12 Golf Ball to go around my drive.
    They were fine for the last 2 winters. This year I can see a few brown leaves that have been frosted, but nothing significant. At the moment they're desperate for water - the soil is really dry I discovered earlier.
    My Silver Queen has never been affected - not even during The Beasts we had a few yrs ago.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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