Pittosporum Hedges, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Pittosporum is a dense, glossy evergreen shrub that does very well in SW Florida, takes salt spray and drought, and makes a good 4 to 8 ft hedge, with sweetly fragrant white flowers in spring. It comes in plain green and cream-variegated forms. Sizes vary, so text us what you need and we will text back a planted price.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt:
- Moderate to high; a classic coastal shrub
Pittosporum
Ask for a photo of the actual plant we would deliver.
Pittosporum sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Pittosporum | Call for Quote |
Pittosporum in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 8 to 12 ft tall and wider if left alone; kept at 4 to 8 ft as a hedge
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate to high; a classic coastal shrub
- Cold tolerance
- Very cold hardy; frost is not a concern in SW Florida
- Growth rate
- Moderate; faster when young
- Spacing
- 3 to 4 ft apart for a hedge
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Pittosporum tobira
Where Pittosporum works in a SW Florida yard
A clipped hedge at 4 to 8 ft along a property line or around a patio is the classic job for pittosporum. The leaves are glossy, and the creamy spring flowers smell like orange blossoms, so plant it near a window or a seating area.
It handles wind and salt spray, so it suits open or coastal lots. Loropetalum, Indian hawthorn and coontie mix well in front of it.
- Privacy and screen hedge
- Foundation planting
- Salt-spray coastal yards
- Fragrant spring flowers
How our crew plants it
For a hedge, pittosporum is spaced 3 to 4 ft apart with the root ball level with the soil, and in a low spot it goes on a slight rise, since wet feet rot the roots.
Our crew waters the hedge in and cleans up. Expect frequent watering for the first couple of months, which Lee and Collier allow, then your two assigned days.
Care after planting
- Shear or prune lightly after the spring bloom to hold hedge height and keep it dense, since it needs more trimming while young.
- Water on your assigned days and avoid constant overhead sprinklers, because root rot kills pittosporum in soggy ground.
- Check leaf undersides for scale and sooty mold, and treat early with horticultural oil.
- Yellow new leaves in high-pH soil point to a micronutrient shortage, so use a fertilizer with micronutrients, and avoid nitrogen and phosphorus products from June 1 to September 30.
What to watch for
- Cottony cushion scale and aphids are the usual pests, and sooty mold follows the honeydew they leave behind.
- Root rot is the real killer in poorly drained spots, so avoid low areas that stay wet after summer rains.
Pittosporum questions we hear
Is pittosporum a good privacy hedge in Southwest Florida?+
Yes, it is a dependable one. Pittosporum is dense and evergreen, takes salt spray and drought, and clips well at 4 to 8 ft. It needs drained soil and a little time to fill in. Plant it 3 to 4 ft apart for a solid screen.
How far apart should I plant pittosporum for a hedge?+
Plant 3 to 4 ft apart for a hedge that closes up in a couple of seasons. UF/IFAS lists 36 to 60 inches for mass plantings. Tighter spacing fills faster but needs more trimming, and wider spacing leaves gaps for longer.
Is pittosporum invasive in Florida?+
Japanese pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira) is not on Florida's invasive plant list, and UF/IFAS says it is not considered a problem species. A different species, Taiwanese cheesewood (Pittosporum pentandrum), is listed in South Florida, so confirm the name when you shop.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Pittosporum
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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