Pollinator plant

Japanese cheesewood

Pittosporum tobira

Pollinator recipe
Sign in to use recipes

Common names

43 names · 29 languages
EnglishYour language
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (28)
Dutch
  • Australische laurier
  • Kleefzaad
French
Arabic
  • شجر الجبن الياباني[3]
Basque
  • Pitosporoa[3]
Bosnian
  • Japanski ljepljivac[3]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Japanski ljepljivac[3]
  • Pitospor[3]
Czech
  • slizoplod tobira[3]
Danish
  • Klæbefrø[3]
Estonian
  • jaapani vaiguseemnik[3]
Finnish
  • kiiltokielopuu[3]
German
  • Chinesischer Klebsame[1][3]
  • Klebsamenstrauch[2]
Greek
  • Αγγελικούλα[3]
Hebrew
  • פיטוספורום יפני[3]
Hungarian
  • Kínai enyvesmag[3]
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Polish
  • pospornica japońska[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Питтоспорум Тобира[3]
Slovak
  • pitospóra japonská[3]
Slovenian
  • navadni lepljivec[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • glansbuske[3]
Turkish
  • Yıldız Çalısı[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Pittosporum tobira — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese cheesewood — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Chinesischer Klebsame — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Japanese mock-orange — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Japanese pittosporum — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • mock orange — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Azarero asiático — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Clavo verde asiático — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Pittospore du japon — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Pittosporo — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Faia-do-Norte — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • pitósporo-chinês — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Pitósporo-da-china — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
[2] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Pittosporum tobira ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Japanese cheesewood (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 138589; taxon CQVTN.
  • Klebsamenstrauch (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 138590; taxon CQVTN.
[3] Pittosporum tobira — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese cheesewood — results[18].names[1]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Chinesischer Klebsame — results[18].names[14]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Japanese mock-orange — results[18].names[8]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Japanese pittosporum — results[18].names[2]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • mock orange — results[18].names[3]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Azarero asiático — results[18].names[13]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Clavo verde asiático — results[18].names[4]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Pittospore du japon — results[18].names[11]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Pittosporo — results[18].names[9]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Faia-do-Norte — results[18].names[23]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • pitósporo-chinês — results[18].names[22]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Pitósporo-da-china — results[18].names[5]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • 海桐 — results[18].names[6]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • 海桐花 — results[18].names[7]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • トベラ — results[18].names[10]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • jaapani vaiguseemnik — results[18].names[12]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • slizoplod tobira — results[18].names[15]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Питтоспорум Тобира — results[18].names[16]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Pitòspor — results[18].names[17]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Αγγελικούλα — results[18].names[18]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Japanski ljepljivac — results[18].names[19]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Pitospor — results[18].names[20]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • 돈나무 — results[18].names[21]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Klæbefrø — results[18].names[24]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • navadni lepljivec — results[18].names[25]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • 海桐 — results[18].names[26]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • شجر الجبن الياباني — results[18].names[27]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • פיטוספורום יפני — results[18].names[28]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Kínai enyvesmag — results[18].names[29]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • glansbuske — results[18].names[30]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Japanski ljepljivac — results[18].names[31]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Yıldız Çalısı — results[18].names[32]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • pospornica japońska — results[18].names[33]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • kiiltokielopuu — results[18].names[34]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • pitospóra japonská — results[18].names[35]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Pitosporoa — results[18].names[36]; taxon id 78592; Pittosporum tobira.
[4] Pittosporum tobira — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Australian Laurel — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Japanese Pittosporum — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Mock Orange — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Mockorange — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Pittosporum — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Pittosporum tobira.
  • Variegated Japanese Pittosporum — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Pittosporum tobira.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Pittosporum tobira is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Pittosporaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
2.44–3.96 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
1.22–2.44 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Erect; Mounding; Rounded; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
S. Korea, SC. & S. Japan to Nansei-shotō.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

Japanese cheesewood (Pittosporum tobira) is a shrub. It flowers in August.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Pittosporum tobira — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 4704793; ID CQVTN; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 4704793; ID CQVTN; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Pittosporum tobira — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pittosporum tobira — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 320406; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1075942, 1075943, 1075944, 1075945

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.