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Japanese cheesewood Facts

Japanese cheesewood Facts
Japanese cheesewood is a type of evergreen bush that belongs to the family Pittosporaceae. It originates from Japan, Korea and China, but it can be found in areas with mild climate around the world today. Japanese cheesewood grows on the well-drained, loamy or sandy soil, in areas that provide direct sun or partial shade. Since it tolerates drought and increased salinity of the ground, people often plant Japanese cheesewood near the seaside. This plant is mostly cultivated in ornamental purposes. Decorative leaves of Japanese cheesewood are often used in floral industry for the preparation of various floral arrangements.
Interesting Japanese cheesewood Facts:
Japanese cheesewood can reach from 2 to 20 feet in height. Plants cultivated in the shade are taller than those that are grown in areas with plenty of sun.
Japanese cheesewood is bushy plant that develops several thick branches that create rounded, tree-like crown. It can be trimmed into hedge or cultivated as miniature tree in the containers.
Stem and branches of Japanese cheesewood are covered with grey bark.
Japanese cheesewood develops evergreen, thick, leathery and smooth leaves. They are oval or obovate in shape with inwardly curved margins. Upper side of the leaves is glossy, dark green colored. Bottom side of leaves is lighter in color.
Leaves of Japanese cheesewood are alternately arranged on the branches. Japanese cheesewood is cultivated in front of the houses to provide privacy with its dense foliage.
Some varieties of Japanese cheesewood produce variegated leaves. They are grey-green colored and covered with irregular creamy markings.
Japanese cheesewood blooms during the spring and produces white flowers arranged in clusters on the tips of the branches. Flowers last few weeks.
Flowers of Japanese cheesewood are fragrant and bisexual (they contain both types of reproductive organs). Large quantity of nectar attracts insects, responsible for the pollination of this plant.
Fruit of Japanese cheesewood is orange-colored, woody capsule covered with hairs. It splits in three valve and exposes seed embedded in resinous pulp.
Japanese cheesewood propagates via seed and cuttings.
Scientific name for the Japanese cheesewood is Pittosporum. Name originates from Greek language and it consists of two words: "pitte" which means "tar" and "sporos" which means "seed". Name refers to the fact that plant produces seed covered with sticky capsule.
Japanese cheesewood is also known as Japanese mockorange due to beautiful, sweet orange-like fragrance of the flowers.
Japanese cheesewood contains saponins that can induce poisoning of humans and animals. Some tribes use fruit of Japanese cheesewood to attract and kill fish in the streams. This method facilitates collecting of fish from the water.
Japanese cheesewood is often cultivated as wind-protecting hedge, or as ornamental indoor and outdoor plant.
Japanese cheesewood can survive from 5 to 20 years in the wild.


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