pittosporum, Any of various evergreen shrubs or trees, mainly from Australia and New Zealand, that make up the genus Pittosporum (family Pittosporaceae), commonly known as Australian laurel. They are planted especially as ornamentals in warm regions. The most popular and hardiest species, called tobira, or house-blooming mock orange (P. tobira), is native to China and Japan; it is a popular fragrant hedge plant in warm climates and a handsome indoor plant elsewhere.