Cheesewood, Japanese Mock-orange, and Tobira Pittosporum. Native to Japan but widely used throughout the world as an ornamental plant, it is a sturdy evergreen shrub that can reach up to 10 meters in height and spread up to 3 meters wide. Its oval, leathery leaves are dark green and shiny on top, while the fragrant inflorescence that occurs at the ends of branches has five white petals each about a centimeter long. Its woody capsule fruit is hairy and contains black seeds in a resinous pulp. Highly tolerant of pruning and maritime exposure, it can be grown as a wind-resistant hedge. This plant is ideal for use in shelterbelt plantings, and its stems, leaves, and dried fruits can be used in flower arrangements. Varieties with variegated leaves have been developed, and the species and its cultivar 'Variegatum' have both been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.