pittosporum

[ pi-tos-per-uhm, pit-uh-spawr-uhm, -spohr- ]

noun

1. any of various shrubs or trees of the genus Pittosporum, native to warm regions of the Old World, many species of which are cultivated as ornamentals for their attractive foliage, flowers, or fruit.

pittosporum

/ pɪˈtɒspərəm /

noun

1. any of various trees and shrubs of the Pittosporum genus of Australasia, Asia, and Africa, having small fragrant flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of pittosporum¹

< New Latin, equivalent to Greek ( Attic ) pitto- (combining form of pítta, píssa pitch ² ) + spór ( os ) seed ( spore ) + New Latin -um neuter noun ending; so called from the resinous coating of the seeds

Word History and Origins

Origin of pittosporum¹

New Latin, from Greek pitta pitch (from the resinous coating of the seeds) + spora seed

Example Sentences

When she was lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, the wreath included pine from the gardens at Balmoral and pittosporum, lavender and rosemary from the gardens at Windsor.

From BBC

His garden is a combination of his English roots and Southern California influences: Hardy boxwood ‘Green Beauty’ hedges, Pittosporum tobira ‘Wheeler’s Dwarf’ shrubs and Japanese holly planted en masse are softened by flowering blue hibiscus, grape vines, honeysuckle and jasmine.

From Los Angeles Times

Robbins transformed the empty stoop with potted plants that can endure the heat; they are a variety of shapes and sizes, including quick-growing acacia, bougainvillea, citrus, cistus, jacaranda ‘Bonsai Blue,’ Olea europea, Pittosporum crassifolium ‘Compactum’ and santolina.

From Los Angeles Times

Cotoneaster salicifolius ‘Gnome,’ Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’ and the dwarf conifer Thujopsis dolobrata ‘Nana’.

From Seattle Times

Robbins transformed the empty stoop with potted plants that can endure the heat; they are a variety of shapes and sizes, including quick-growing acacia, bougainvillea, citrus, cistus, jacaranda ‘Bonsai Blue,’ Olea europea, Pittosporum crassifolium ‘Compactum’ and santolina.

From Los Angeles Times