Kohuhu, Black Matipo (Pittosporum tenuifolium)

Plant characteristics at a glance

Plant type

Shrub

Botanical or cultivar name

Pittosporum tenuifolium

Common name

Kohuhu, Black Matipo

Flower colours

red and black

Foliage colours

green

Light mentioned in source

Not specified

Flowering season in source

Spring - Summer

Garden use tags

Hedging & screening, Coastal gardens, Wet ground, Restoration planting

NZ native

Listed here as a NZ native

Colours, seasons and tolerance descriptions are indicative. Flowering and growth can differ with cultivar, weather, soil and the particular garden site.

Where Kohuhu, Black Matipo may fit in a Christchurch garden

For boundary planting, a garden maintenance plan might include selective pruning, underplanting, weeding and green-waste removal.

Possible uses to explore include hedging & screening, coastal gardens, wet ground, restoration planting. These are reference tags, not a guarantee of success on every property.

Look at existing hedges, paths, lawn edges and neighbouring plants before deciding where to place it. A compact city garden has different needs from an open rural or restoration planting.

Sun, drainage and local conditions

First establish whether the space gets full sun, partial shade or very little direct light, then check the species' requirements before placing it.

Coastal exposure appears in the reference notes, but shelter and salt wind still vary from street to street near New Brighton and Southshore.

Before planting, test soil drainage after rain and consider whether winter frosts, easterly winds or summer drying will affect establishment.

Care and maintenance

Allow space for mature width, then decide whether the shrub needs occasional shaping or a formal clipping schedule. Avoid hard pruning until you have identified its growth habit and flowering wood.

Watering, feeding and pruning should follow the exact species and site. Observe the plant through the first full growing season; adjust the plan rather than applying the same schedule to every shrub, tree or flower.

Reference and plant identification

This entry draws on factual characteristics in a publicly listed Canterbury nursery catalogue. For identification details and more botanical information, see the Goughs Nurseries listing for Pittosporum tenuifolium ↗. Kiwi Gardeners is independent of the nursery. We do not reproduce its photographs, descriptions or stock claims.

If you are unsure of a cultivar, check the actual plant label and seek horticultural advice before purchasing. Avoid introducing regulated or invasive species, and check local rules where relevant.