Sweet Pittosporum

Pittosporum undulatum

“Originally a scattered inhabitant of shady, rainforest gullies, it is highly opportunistic and now aggressively colonises almost any moist, shady location..” – NPOS p.196

Like the Fishbone Fern the sweet Pittosporum is a native plant that is now often considered a weed in urban bushland. Although the Sweet Pittosporum is different in that it’s also naturally found in the Sydney area.

We have a few of these in the front and back yard. It’s a small tree, the leaves are vivid green, shiny and have wavy margins, which is where is scientific name undulatum comes from. It’s meant to have a strong sweet smell when in flower. I’ve had a blocked nose for the week though and have not noticed it. The seeds are edible and were ground for food by Aboriginies.

Sweet Pittosporum in the back yard next to the washing line. It’s doing well considering it’s growing on top of a large rock outcrop.

Sweet Pittosporum Flowers - check out the two small green bugs

more info:

• Sweet Pittosporum on the Atlas of Living Australia
• Sweet Pittosporum on weeds.org.au
• Sweet Pittosporum on the Australian Native Plant Society
• Sweet Pittosporum on Wikipedia

• Edible
• Native
• Pittosporum
• Pittosporum Undulatum
• Sweet Pittosporum
• Yard