Pittosporum tenuifolium
Short leaf box
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Pittosporaceae · Type: Tree · Not Native
Pittosporum tenuifolium (Short leaf box) is a non-native California tree in the Pittosporaceae family, recognized by leaf thinness, size, and wavy margins.
Short leaf box is a naturalized tree found in the Central Coast bioregion in disturbed urban areas at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from December to May, this tree produces dark red to purple-black flowers approximately 12 millimeters long. Growing to 8 meters tall with sparse-hairy twigs, it has a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves are thin, oblong to oblong-ovate, 3 to 6 centimeters long with slightly wavy margins and nearly smooth undersides. The fruit is a small, spherical, hairy capsule approximately 10 to 12 millimeters long containing black seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are leaf thinness, size, and wavy margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon waif. Disturbed urban areas
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: native to New Zealand
Bloom period
Pittosporum tenuifolium blooms Dec-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Heptapleurum: Pittosporum has simple leaves; Heptapleurum has compound leaves with leaflets radiating like fingers.; vs Eriobotrya: Pittosporum has smooth leaf edges; Eriobotrya has toothed leaves and fuzzy undersides.; vs Quercus: Pittosporum has smooth leathery leaves; Quercus has lobed or toothed leaves and acorns.; vs Philadelphus: Pittosporum has leathery evergreen leaves; Philadelphus has deciduous leaves and showy 4-petaled flowers.; vs Coprosma: Pittosporum has flowers with visible petals; Coprosma has tiny inconspicuous flowers and colorful berries.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pittosporum tenuifolium native to California?
No. Pittosporum tenuifolium is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Pittosporum tenuifolium bloom?
Pittosporum tenuifolium blooms Dec-May.
What plant family does Pittosporum tenuifolium belong to?
Pittosporum tenuifolium is in the Pittosporaceae family, genus Pittosporum.
What habitat does Pittosporum tenuifolium grow in?
Pittosporum tenuifolium grows in Uncommon waif. Disturbed urban areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.