Pittosporum eugenioides, common names lemonwood or tarata, is a species of New Zealand native evergreen tree.

[1] Its leaves are mottled yellow-green with curly edges and a salient bright midrib, and have a strong lemony smell when crushed.

[2] It has highly fragrant clusters of attractive yellow-cream flowers in spring, followed by distinctive black seed capsules.

[2] It is found throughout New Zealand's North and South Islands along forest margins and stream banks from sea level to 600 m (1,969 ft).

Countries with the same genus found include; Africa, Australia, some Pacific islands, southern and eastern Asia, and New Zealand.

Nurseries and Garden Centres are stocking this native because it is suited to New Zealand conditions where it naturally grew many years ago.

[12] At home in the garden, P. euegnioides prefers a sunny to part shade position, does not mind the wind, and thrives in soil with good drainage.

[13] The sweet scent of the flowers suggest nectar loving birds find this an ideal plant to forage from.

Results of this test unearthed that this lemonwood aroma combination is very unusual for this genus and the chemicals are different to what you would find in other citrus scented species.

[17] Māori traditionally used the gum and crushed leaves and flowers of the tarata for scent,[18] usually mixed with plant oils such as tītoki and kōhia.

[10] Lemonwood is on the recommended list for replanting "small trees up to 6m" naturally occurring species in to the design guidelines of the Christchurch City Council.

"Hardy native species offer a great number of benefits" and are more flexible to suit local conditions compared to "foreign" plant selection.

[12] It is important to include historic, naturally occurring species planting design because they perform well in local conditions.