Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Abbotsbury Gold’

Illuminate your Irish garden with the radiant beauty of Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Abbotsbury Gold’, a luminous evergreen that brings year-round sunshine and architectural elegance to garden compositions. This exceptional cultivar transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary landscapes with its brilliant golden foliage and graceful columnar habit, creating a living beacon of light that glows throughout every season.

The distinctive wavy-edged leaves emerge in stunning shades of golden-yellow with lime-green centres, creating a shimmering tapestry of colour that dances in Ireland’s gentle light. The slender, upright growth habit forms elegant columns of radiant foliage, whilst the glossy leaves catch and reflect sunlight, bringing luminosity and warmth to gardens even on the greyest of days. In spring, tiny dark purple-red flowers add subtle contrast, releasing a delicate honey fragrance.

Named after the famous Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Dorset, this remarkable cultivar brings New Zealand heritage combined with British breeding excellence. Hardy and adaptable, ‘Abbotsbury Gold’ thrives in Irish conditions, tolerating coastal exposure and urban pollution whilst maintaining its brilliant colour and architectural presence throughout the year.

Create stunning contrasts by pairing this golden treasure with purple-leaved companions such as Cotinus or Berberis, or embrace a warm palette alongside bronze phormiums and copper-toned heucheras. Magnificent as a specimen plant, in mixed borders for vertical interest, or as elegant hedging where its year-round golden glow will bring structure, colour, and sophistication to your Irish garden sanctuary.

Planting: Space plants 1.5-2m apart for hedging, or allow 2-3m for specimen planting. Plant in spring or early autumn in well-drained, fertile soil. Dig holes twice the width of the root ball and incorporate organic matter. Water thoroughly after planting and mulch to retain moisture.

Soil Preparation: Thrives in well-drained, moderately fertile soils with pH 6.0-7.5. Tolerates clay if drainage is adequate. In heavy soils, incorporate organic matter and horticultural grit. Avoid waterlogged conditions. Benefits from shelter in exposed locations to protect foliage from wind scorch.

Container Growing: Excellent for containers using quality, soil-based compost. Choose pots minimum 50cm diameter for long-term growing. Water regularly during growing season, reducing in winter. Feed monthly during growing season with balanced liquid fertiliser. Protect from severe frost by moving to sheltered locations.

Seasonal Care: Prune in late spring after flowering to maintain shape and size. Responds well to trimming and can be shaped into topiary forms. Remove any frost-damaged growth in spring. Apply slow-release balanced fertiliser in early spring. Mulch annually with organic matter to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Propagation: Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer using hormone rooting powder. Root in well-drained compost with bottom heat if possible. Maintain consistent moisture and humidity. Rooting typically takes 6-8 weeks. Overwinter young plants in frost-free conditions before planting out.