Pittosporum tobria, Wheeler's dwarf....in Denton?

I just purchased 3 of these shrubs (babies lol) because I love their low mounded habit and their interesting leaves.

Now, I keep reading conflicting advice...shade...no sun...they have to have well drained...and Denton seems to be north of the area recommended for this species.

Since my soil tends to the clay side in most spots - and these guys hate wet feet...should I then put them in a more sunny spot to keep them drier? I had them earmarked for a part shade location under high canopy oaks (recommended site by most reading) but now I'm worried about drainage in that spot.

Other alternatives are to plant them as a foundation shrub on a South facing wall, but they will get some intense heat there as the wall is light and is likely to reflect more heat back on the shrubs.

Last alternative is on the north side, away from the wall, where they are going to be in full sun for the summer, and partial sun (as the sun moves lower and my house shade lengthens) during spring and fall, then to full shade in the winter. That doesn't sound ideal, either.

Poo! I am so confused. Any suggestions?

Hi larissa, sorry can't help you. I've had my eye on a very lovely varigated Pittosporum at a local nursery. So I hope someone will come along shortly with the info :)

Neil Sperry does not recommend them for this area because he says they are marginal. My landscaper had 6 wheelers dwarf and 3 variegated in the plans for our front yard. I asked him about them being marginal and he said they are actually a lot hardier (wet, hot, dry, cold, whatever in our weather) than many other commonly used landscape plants around here. With our droughts, the 2006 freak early cold spell and wet spring last year, he said he has stopped using or cut back on several plants , but still really likes the pittosporums. Still, I narrowed ours down to 5 bushes.

The placements for all were all partial shade. The three dwarf face northwest and get direct sun in the late afternoon for about 3 hours. The two variegated face west but are mostly shaded by the house and a Wax myrtle tree that they are under. They were just installed two weeks ago so I can't attest to their hardiness myself yet.

Thank you, Sweezel. I'm getting one! You may have seen the variegated I want growing in the Blue Moon shade garden, theirs is quite large. Do you know how fast they grow?

I am not sure. I think fairly quickly. There is a house in my neighborhood that has some in the front yard that are about 5 feet tall and the house can't be more than 6 years old.

Thanks!

I have had one for a year that is in full sun in the winter and partial in the summer. I has put on quite a bit of new growth and it's cool because the new leaves are yellow but gradually turn the dark green color. It has no winter protection and thrived this past winter, but this was a mild winter.

This is from about 3 months ago.

This is from about 9 months ago.

Wow, that is some growth, broncbuster!

Still, Waxahachie isn't Denton.

But hey, I got them on sale for $1.75 a piece on Lowes' "we didn't quite kill them but no one's gonna pay full price for these sad suckers" clearance rack. lol

I'm going to be brave and plant them were I had them in mind.

Now, any suggestions to improving an area that tends to puddle water in rainy weather?

You might ask Loonie1. She had the same situation.