Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum
Dense fine grey-green foliage provides refined evergreen screening and formal hedging structure with excellent coastal resilience.
Regular price
$150.00
Sale price
$150.00
Regular price
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Pot size
Available batches
- Current height guide
- Please enquire
- Pot size
- 30cm/33cm
Approximate only. Minimum height important? Confirm with us.
Height guide & disclaimer
Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you must confirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.
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About this tree
About this tree
- Mature height
- 2m to 5m
- Mature width
- 1.5m to 3m
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Stephens Island' is a compact evergreen shrub with fine grey green foliage carried densely on dark upright stems. The small soft leaves give it an almost cloudy texture that reads well against rendered walls and hard paving. Small purple flowers open in spring and are scented in the evening.
It performs in full sun to part shade in free draining soil, and it is notably good in salt wind and sandy coastal ground. Growth runs at 40 to 80 centimetres a year. Established plants take light to moderate frost and dry spells, which suits temperate, coastal and Mediterranean climates.
Mature size is about 2 to 3 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide, useful range for a low to mid height hedge, a clipped feature or a fine textured backdrop in a courtyard. It gives coastal and contemporary gardens a formal outline without the fussiness of a tight box hedge.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Stephens Island Pittosporum
What is Stephens Island Pittosporum?
'Stephens Island' is a cultivar of Pittosporum tenuifolium selected for its compact habit and fine grey green leaves. It makes a dense evergreen shrub around 2 to 3 metres tall, used for hedging, screening and feature planting. The foliage texture is softer and lighter in colour than the standard dark green forms.
How big does it grow?
Expect 2 to 3 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide when grown without clipping. It responds well to trimming and is often held at 1.2 to 1.8 metres as a hedge. Growth is upright and dense from low down, so it screens properly at the base rather than going leggy.
Is it suitable for coastal positions?
Yes, this is one of its strengths. It handles salt laden wind, sandy soil and exposed seaside conditions once established, and the fine foliage takes wind without shredding. Free draining soil is the main requirement. In very exposed front line positions, temporary wind protection through the first year speeds establishment.
Does it need sun or shade?
Full sun brings out the grey tones in the foliage and keeps the plant dense to the ground. Part shade is acceptable and plants still grow well, though the habit opens up and the leaf colour turns greener. Deep shade is not suitable if you are relying on the plant for screening.
Is it frost tolerant?
Established plants take light to moderate frost. In cold inland gardens the outer foliage can be marked by hard frost, and it recovers with the spring flush. Plant in autumn or early spring so the roots are established before the first cold snap, and mulch the root zone through the first winter.
Can it grow in pots?
Yes, it grows well in a large container, which is a common use for it in courtyards and on balconies. Use a pot of at least 500 millimetres with a free draining mix. Container plants need more frequent watering and a slow release fertiliser each spring, and stay smaller than plants in the ground.
How do I care for Stephens Island Pittosporum?
Keep the water up for the first two summers, after which it largely looks after itself. Mulch annually, keeping the material off the stems. Clip lightly in late spring and again in late summer, cutting soft growth only. Avoid heavy cutting into old wood, which is slow to reshoot on pittosporums.
Mature height & width
Mature height & width
- Mature height
- 2m to 5m
- Mature width
- 1.5m to 3m
Pot sizes & dimensions
Pot sizes & dimensions
| Pot / bag size | Width | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| 30cm Pot | 33cm | 30cm |
| 40cm/45L Pot | 44cm | 41.5cm |
| 50cm Pot / 70L Pot | 55cm | 41.8cm |
| 100L Bag | 50.6cm | 52.8cm |
| 150L Bag | 66cm | 55cm |
| 200L Bag | 71.5cm | 60.5cm |
| 300L Bag | 88cm | 63.8cm |
| 400L Bag | 99cm | 66cm |
| 500L Bag | 122cm | 66cm |
| 750L Bag | 134cm | 69cm |
| 1000L Bag | 146.3cm | 71.5cm |
| 2000L Bag | 176cm | 82.5cm |
General planting reference from our existing size guide. Actual containers can vary by supplier and batch; confirm exact dimensions if required.
Delivery & pickup
Delivery & pickup
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Trade enquiries
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Enter the length of your boundary, then choose how closely you want to plant.
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Measure only the boundary you intend to plant—exclude gates and gaps. Spacing is centre to centre. Quantities are rounded up for one row, allowing roughly half the spacing at each end. Site conditions and pruning affect the final hedge.
About Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Stephens Island' is a compact evergreen shrub with fine grey green foliage carried densely on dark upright stems. The small soft leaves give it an almost cloudy texture that reads well against rendered walls and hard paving. Small purple flowers open in spring and are scented in the evening.
It performs in full sun to part shade in free draining soil, and it is notably good in salt wind and sandy coastal ground. Growth runs at 40 to 80 centimetres a year. Established plants take light to moderate frost and dry spells, which suits temperate, coastal and Mediterranean climates.
Mature size is about 2 to 3 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide, useful range for a low to mid height hedge, a clipped feature or a fine textured backdrop in a courtyard. It gives coastal and contemporary gardens a formal outline without the fussiness of a tight box hedge.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Stephens Island Pittosporum
What is Stephens Island Pittosporum?
'Stephens Island' is a cultivar of Pittosporum tenuifolium selected for its compact habit and fine grey green leaves. It makes a dense evergreen shrub around 2 to 3 metres tall, used for hedging, screening and feature planting. The foliage texture is softer and lighter in colour than the standard dark green forms.
How big does it grow?
Expect 2 to 3 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide when grown without clipping. It responds well to trimming and is often held at 1.2 to 1.8 metres as a hedge. Growth is upright and dense from low down, so it screens properly at the base rather than going leggy.
Is it suitable for coastal positions?
Yes, this is one of its strengths. It handles salt laden wind, sandy soil and exposed seaside conditions once established, and the fine foliage takes wind without shredding. Free draining soil is the main requirement. In very exposed front line positions, temporary wind protection through the first year speeds establishment.
Does it need sun or shade?
Full sun brings out the grey tones in the foliage and keeps the plant dense to the ground. Part shade is acceptable and plants still grow well, though the habit opens up and the leaf colour turns greener. Deep shade is not suitable if you are relying on the plant for screening.
Is it frost tolerant?
Established plants take light to moderate frost. In cold inland gardens the outer foliage can be marked by hard frost, and it recovers with the spring flush. Plant in autumn or early spring so the roots are established before the first cold snap, and mulch the root zone through the first winter.
Can it grow in pots?
Yes, it grows well in a large container, which is a common use for it in courtyards and on balconies. Use a pot of at least 500 millimetres with a free draining mix. Container plants need more frequent watering and a slow release fertiliser each spring, and stay smaller than plants in the ground.
How do I care for Stephens Island Pittosporum?
Keep the water up for the first two summers, after which it largely looks after itself. Mulch annually, keeping the material off the stems. Clip lightly in late spring and again in late summer, cutting soft growth only. Avoid heavy cutting into old wood, which is slow to reshoot on pittosporums.
- Foliage
Evergreen (foliage year round)
- Position
- Form
- Use
- Mature height
- 2m to 5m
- Mature width
- 1.5m to 3m
Planting Information
Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum is expected to grow 40cm to 80cm per year under suitable conditions.
Long Term Care For Your Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum
Planting Your Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum in Different Soil
Uses in my Garden
Uses in my Garden
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum works in an:
Is Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum Evergreen or Deciduous?
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree
Mature Height & Width
Mature Height: 2m to 5m
Mature Width: 1.5m to 3m
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum is expected to grow 40cm to 80cm per year under suitable conditions.
Growth Rate of Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum is expected to grow 40cm to 80cm per year under suitable conditions.
They are considered to have a:
Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum
Is Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum frost tolerant?
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.
Does Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum Flower?
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ produces small dark purple fragrant flowers during spring, although the blooms are generally subtle against the dense foliage. The plant is primarily valued for its fine-textured evergreen foliage and naturally compact screening habit.
Does Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum flower?
Flowering Period:
Flower Type:
Flower Colour:
Purple
Is Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum an Australian Native Tree?
No
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum is Native to Derived from New Zealand Pittosporum tenuifolium selections.
What is the Wildlife Value of Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum ?
Its dense evergreen foliage provides valuable shelter and habitat for small birds and beneficial insects throughout the year. Seasonal flowers may also attract pollinators including bees, supporting biodiversity within ornamental and coastal landscapes.
How much Sunlight does Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum need?
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum will thrive best in:
Preferred Soil?
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ performs best in well-drained loam or sandy soils with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. It will also tolerate coastal conditions and a wide range of general garden soils provided drainage remains reliable. Avoid persistently wet or heavily compacted conditions unless significantly improved, as excess moisture can reduce root health and overall vigour. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then gradually reduce watering as the plant matures.
Is Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum Drought Tolerant?
Is Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum Drought tolerant?
During establishment it requires regular watering, but once established Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ develops strong drought tolerance. It performs reliably in coastal and temperate landscapes with minimal supplementary watering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Compare sizes side by side
30cm/33cm
Enquire for current heights
Heights are approximate and vary between individual trees.
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ is loved for its Dense fine grey-green foliage provides refined evergreen screening and formal hedging structure with excellent coastal resilience.
We take pride in supplying A+ grade advanced trees. When stock at our farm is not yet ready, we work with our trusted trade suppliers to source the best available trees for your garden.
Plant Your Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Stephens Island’ – Stephens Island Pittosporum With:
Trachelospermum jasminoides Balls – Star Jasmine Balls
Trachelospermum jasminoides Balls – Star Jasmine Balls
Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Balls' is Star Jasmine grown and clipped into a dense evergreen sphere. The small glossy leaves sit tight on a woody framework, holding a clean rounded outline year round. White pinwheel flowers open in spring and carry a strong sweet scent right across a courtyard.
Ball specimens hold at about 1 to 1.5 metres tall and wide with light clipping. Full sun to part shade suits them, in any free draining soil. Growth is slow to moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year. They handle coastal exposure, light frost and dry spells once the roots are down.
Repeat them along a driveway, either side of an entry, or in pots on a terrace where a formal shape is wanted straight away. They read as structure in a planting scheme without the height of a hedge, and because the form is already trained, a new garden looks settled from the day it goes in.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Star Jasmine Balls
What are Star Jasmine Balls?
They are Trachelospermum jasminoides, the common Star Jasmine, grown and clipped into a dense evergreen sphere on a woody framework. Instead of climbing, the plant is trained into a self supporting rounded shape. The foliage is small, glossy and dark green, and the plant carries scented white flowers through spring.
How big do Star Jasmine Balls grow?
They hold at roughly 1 to 1.5 metres tall and 1 to 1.5 metres wide. Growth is slow to moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year, so a light clip once or twice a year keeps the ball tight at whatever size within that range suits the setting.
Do Star Jasmine Balls need sun or shade?
Full sun to part shade both work. Full sun gives the densest foliage and the heaviest flowering, while part shade produces slightly softer, more open growth and fewer flowers. Avoid deep shade, where the ball thins out and loses its outline. Morning sun with afternoon protection suits hot inland gardens.
Can Star Jasmine Balls be grown in pots?
Yes, and pots are one of the main uses. A container 50 to 60 centimetres wide with a quality free draining mix will hold a ball for years. Water more often than you would in the ground, especially in summer, and feed in spring and again in late summer. Refresh the mix every few years.
Are Star Jasmine Balls evergreen?
Yes, the foliage is held year round. The glossy dark green leaves take on a bronze tinge in cold weather and green up again in spring, but the plant never goes bare. That is what makes it useful as permanent structure in a scheme, particularly in winter once perennials have died back.
When do Star Jasmine Balls flower?
Flowering runs through spring, roughly September to November, and often carries into early summer in warmer districts. The white pinwheel flowers are small but produced in quantity, and the scent is strong on still evenings. Flowering is heaviest on plants in full sun that were not clipped hard just before bud set.
How do I prune and care for Star Jasmine Balls?
Clip lightly with hedging shears once after flowering and again in late summer if needed, taking only the new growth to keep the outline crisp. Water deeply in dry weather, mulch the base, and feed in early spring. The sap is milky and can irritate skin, so wear gloves when trimming.
Trachelospermum jasminoides Balls – Star Jasmine Balls
Westringia fruticosa – Coastal Rosemary
Westringia fruticosa – Coastal Rosemary
Westringia fruticosa, Coastal Rosemary, is an Australian native evergreen shrub from the headlands and dunes of the east coast. It builds a dense rounded bush of fine grey green leaves held in whorls, with small white to pale lilac flowers. Despite the common name it is not the culinary herb.
Mature plants sit at 1.5 to 2 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide, growing 30 to 60 centimetres a year, and they clip smaller without complaint. Full sun to part shade and sharp drainage are the requirements. Salt wind, sandy soil, drought and light to moderate frost are all handled.
It is a standard on coastal projects, road verges, council garden beds and exposed banks that need erosion cover. Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for an informal screen, or 80 centimetres for a clipped hedge. A single plant fills a 40 to 50 centimetre pot on a courtyard or balcony.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Coastal Rosemary
What is Coastal Rosemary?
Westringia fruticosa is an Australian native evergreen shrub from the headlands and dunes of the east coast. It forms a dense rounded bush of fine grey green leaves held in whorls, with small white to pale lilac flowers. Despite the common name it is not culinary rosemary and is not used in cooking.
How big does Coastal Rosemary grow?
Mature plants reach 1.5 to 2 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide. It clips readily to smaller dimensions and is often maintained at around a metre as a hedge or a low mound. Growth is moderate, roughly 30 to 60 centimetres a year, so it holds a trimmed shape well.
Is Coastal Rosemary suitable for coastal positions?
It is one of the best shrubs available for exposed coastal work. It grows naturally on sea cliffs and copes with salt laden wind, sand and reflected heat. It is used constantly on beachfront reserves, dune stabilisation projects and seaside gardens where little else holds a tidy shape.
When does Coastal Rosemary flower?
The main flush is spring and summer, roughly September through February, with scattered flowering at other times of the year in mild districts. The flowers are small, white to pale lilac and sit among the foliage rather than above it. Clipped hedges flower less than plants left to grow informally.
How far apart should I plant Coastal Rosemary for a hedge?
Space plants 80 centimetres apart for a tight formal hedge, or 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen. On banks and batters used for erosion cover, 1 metre in a staggered grid gives full ground coverage within about two growing seasons.
Can Coastal Rosemary grow in pots?
Yes. A pot 40 to 50 centimetres wide suits a single plant for a courtyard, entry or balcony. Use a free draining mix, because the roots will not tolerate sitting wet. Container plants need watering more often than those in the ground, plus a light trim to hold their shape.
How do I prune and care for Coastal Rosemary?
Trim lightly two or three times a year, taking the soft new growth and avoiding cuts into bare old wood, which reshoots poorly. Water through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. On most soils it needs no feeding at all, and it resents heavy watering and poor drainage.
Westringia fruticosa – Coastal Rosemary
Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Blue’ – Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary
Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Blue’ – Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary
Westringia 'Wynyabbie Blue' is a hardy Australian native shrub grown for its lilac blue flowers, which are larger and more freely carried than those of the common white forms. Narrow grey green leaves sit in neat whorls on a dense rounded frame that holds its shape through the year.
Expect 1.5 to 2 metres in height and width at maturity, at 30 to 60 centimetres a year. Full sun brings the heaviest flowering, though part shade is accepted. Drainage matters above everything else, after which it takes salt wind, sandy or gravelly ground, drought and light to moderate frost.
Mass plantings on batters, median strips and coastal frontages are where it earns its keep, and it clips into a low hedge of about a metre without losing its flowering. Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for an informal screen. One plant fills a 40 to 50 centimetre pot neatly.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary
What is Westringia Wynyabbie Blue?
Westringia 'Wynyabbie Blue' is a hardy Australian native shrub grown for its lilac blue flowers, which are larger and more freely carried than those of the common white forms. Narrow grey green leaves sit in neat whorls on a dense rounded frame. It is evergreen and holds its structure all year.
How big does Wynyabbie Blue grow?
It reaches 1.5 to 2 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide at maturity, growing 30 to 60 centimetres a year. It clips comfortably to around a metre if you want a lower hedge, and it will hold that height indefinitely given two or three light trims a year.
When does Wynyabbie Blue flower?
From spring right through autumn, roughly September to May, with sporadic flowers in winter in mild districts. The lilac blue flowers open in flushes rather than all at once, so there is usually some colour on the plant. Flowering is heaviest in full sun on lean, well drained soil.
Is Wynyabbie Blue drought tolerant?
Yes. Once the roots are established it needs very little water and copes with extended dry periods, which is why it is used on unirrigated median strips and road verges. Drainage matters more than watering, since the plant will die in soggy ground long before it dies of thirst.
Is Wynyabbie Blue suitable for coastal positions?
It is. Salt laden wind, sandy soils and reflected heat are all handled, and it is planted routinely on foreshore reserves and beachside gardens. In very exposed frontal positions the plant stays lower and denser than it would inland, which generally suits the situation anyway.
How far apart should I plant Wynyabbie Blue for a hedge?
Use 80 centimetres between plants for a clipped formal hedge, or 1 to 1.5 metres for a dense informal screen. For mass planting on banks and median strips, 1 metre in a staggered pattern gives full coverage within about two growing seasons and shades out most weeds.
How do I prune and care for Wynyabbie Blue?
Trim lightly after each flowering flush, taking soft growth only. Cutting back into bare old wood leaves gaps that will not fill in, so stay on top of it rather than letting it get away. Water through the first summer, then rarely. Avoid rich soils and heavy fertiliser.
Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Blue’ – Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary
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