Lemonwood - Pittosporum Eugenoides

A much loved and admired New Zealand native is the small shrubby tree called a Lemonwood, or Pittosporum Eugenoides. Its leaves are a shiny green and smell faintly lemony, hence its common name.

lemonwood and hosta foliage

I have a Lemonwood in a half oak barrel which is thriving. It seems a most inappropriate place, and the roots must be cramped, but the tree is very happy. I remember to water it and occasionally feed it.

Lemonwood in Flower

Foliage and Flowers

The Lemonwood's leaves make a beautiful contrast alongside other foliage. One of my most inspired (and totally accidental) plantings is a Lemonwood under-planted (on one side) by subtle chatreuse green hostas.

There is also a healthy young Lemonwood growing in the middle of the pond lawn which self seeded in the shade of the old tree lucernes. Now that they've been felled this Lemonwood has fattened out and I haven't the heart to dig it out. I have started potting up small Lemonwood seedlings that I find around the garden - who knows when they may be called into planting action!

In mid-spring Pittosporum Eugenoides produces subtle yellow flowers - finally this year I have captured these on camera. In winter these turn into small berry-like seeds. The effect is quite sculptural.

So this beautiful New Zealand native shrub-tree has everything to offer the discerning gardener - foliage, flower, fragrance, and texture - and it's evergreen!