This evergreen shrub is showing subtle flowers on the Terrace Garden.
Pittosporum ralphii is an evergreen shrub reaching 4m in height. It has dark bark and the alternate leathery leaves have a wavy margin and bear pale hairs on the lower surface. Terminal umbels of deep red or black flowers with narrow petals to 1cm in length are borne in spring, and these contrast with the pale hairs which also cover the calyces. Small fruit capsules split into three to bear black, sticky seeds. P. ralphii is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand where it grows in lowland and montane woodland margins in coastal regions. It is referred to by the Māori people as karo, and the fruits are a favourite of birds and particularly tūī which disperse seeds widely. The genus Pittosporum contains over 250 species from Africa, Asia and Australasia. It takes its name from the Greek pitta (pitch) and spora (seed) in reference to the sticky coating of the seeds.