On Sat, 7 Aug 2004 13:51:53 +0100, "Spider" wrote:


curiosity [email protected] wrote in message
.. .
Newbie needs help with garden just acquired

I'd be grateful if someone could identify from these pictures I've just
taken of
the shrub and its leaf.
It's a pleasant but uneveventful looking orb of about 5 feet in diameter.
I'd
like to cut it back into a smaller sphere but don't know what is
acceptable (or
when it should be done). Perhaps it produces flowers and I should wait?

help most appreciated.

http://www.geocities.com/quooriosity/whatsthis

http://www.geocities.com/quooriosity/leaf

Hi Curiosity,
It looks very like a Pittosporum to me, possibly tenuifolium sp.
I don't know the ideal pruning time, sorry. It does have *tiny* flowers,
but they're not really showy in most Pittosporums. (P. tobira has good,
scented flowers, but is borderline hardy).
Perhaps someone else know when to prune Pittosporum?
Spider

many thanks Spider, I think you've got it. Oddly enough I had a pittosporum in
my last garden and now you mention it there is a striking family resemblance.
That was variegated and much smaller leaf but the same hearty untroubled
(slightly boring) plant.