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Japanese pittosporum and Kona hōʻawa: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE Japanese pittosporum Pittosporum tobira	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Kona hōʻawa Pittosporum hosmeri
	GO NATIVE
Native range
China and Japan	Hawaiian native range: Hawaiʻi.See state guides
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade	Full sun
Soil moisture
Well-drained soil; moist to occasionally dry	Dry soil
Mature height
8–13 ft	10–30 ft
Mature spread
4–8 ft	About 12 ft
USDA hardiness zones
8–10	Choose by island, elevation, and rainfall.
Season of interest
Spring flowers & evergreen foliage	Intermittent flowers & winter fruit
Garden & wildlife value
Wildlife relationships are not detailed in the linked profile.	Fragrant flowers and textured foliage make this Hawaiʻi Island tree a native screening option.
Growing notes
Evergreen shrub; cultivar size varies. Fragrant flowers and dense foliage suit screening.	A slow grower from Hawaiʻi Island; allow for a small tree and water during prolonged dry periods.
Growing information	Growing information

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.