Green pittosporum is the unfussy workhorse of the evergreen shrubs, with dense, whorled, leathery deep green leaves that stay handsome all year. Given room, it reaches 6–10 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide, and its small creamy white flowers release a sweet orange-blossom scent.

Plant it in full sun to part sun in well-drained soil. It shears into a formal hedge or screen as readily as it grows loose, so decide early whether you want clipped discipline or a natural mass along a property line.