This plant grows well in full sun with infrequent to occasional or regular irrigation, but looks best in inland gardens in part sun with regular watering. It is tolerant of fairly dry conditions and near seaside conditions. A great upright hedging plant along the coast.

Pittosporum crassifolium is found naturally growing around forest margins and along streams in coastal localities of the Kermadec Islands and northern areas of the North Island of New Zealand. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'pitta' meaning "pitch" and 'spora' meaning "seed" in reference to the sticky seeds of many members of the genus and the specific epithet is from the Latin words 'crass' meaning "thick" and 'folia' meaning "leaves" in reference to the leaves of this species, which are thicker than most Pittosporum.

This species was first described in 1833 by the Kew trained English botanist Richard Cunningham and was illustrated in Curtis Botanical Magazine in 1872, but was introduced into California prior to 1871 by Stephen Nolan at his Belle View Nursery in Oakland, California and planted into the Strybing Arboretum in 1899. We have grown the great plant since 1981 and also grow the compact form called Pittosporum crassifolium 'Compacta'. 

The information about Pittosporum crassifolium displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.