Pittosporum, Dwarf Pittosporum, Kohuhu 'Golf Ball'

I love these plants - they have a great shape and color, and I think they are beautiful. But they will just up and die with very little ...Read Morewarning. Three of these are centered in my front yard border, and I've had to replace all of them within the last two years. Next one that dies will be replaced by another type of plant.


This is not a water issue - other shrubs nearby are doing fine. I don't see any bugs either. I've often wondered why I don't see more of these, but now I think I know why - they are just too troublesome.

Have had 5 of these plants in my garden and over 3 years have lost 2 and now another is dying. They tolerate all different soils from loa...Read Morem to clay, frost/drought/heat to 45 degrees C doesn't affect them BUT I had to search a lot to find this info' they can be attacked by cutter/curl grubs. So they go great for a couple of years then die unless you are prepared to use toxic poisons. My sister planted 20 of them around a roundabout and they grew great for 18 months and looked fantastic then all died rapidly in the space of about 3 months. I have tried a few natural remidies to try and save them but nothing works so far. So dissappointed as they look great and dont need hedging to keep their shape. I will keep trying to save them because I love how they look.

Golf Ball Kohuhu: I have been growing 4 of these plants in my yard in Carlsbad, CA for more than 5 years. They keep their round shape w...Read Moreithout much trimming and have grown to be almost 3 ft in diameter. I enjoy the green glossy leaves and black branches. They have done well in complete shade. I transplanted them about 7 months ago to an area that gets some direct mid-day sunlight and they survived the transplant and still seem to be doing well. Bugs do not seem to bother this plant.

So it all sounds pretty good, right? Here's the rub: they stink like dead rats. Yup. I thought the odor might be coming out of some landscape drain inlets so I transplanted the Kohuhues as stated above, and replaced the drain pipes. The dead rat smell went away in that area. Unfortunately, the smell followed the plants. Now the courtyard entry to my front door smells like dead rats. Argh! If I didn't like the look and hardiness of the Kohuhu they'd be gone for sure. I will try planting something that smells good nearby to try and mask the Kohuhu's odor.

I don't see where anyone else has posted this problem about this plant. Maybe I got the special ones.