Pittosporum eugenioides
Tarata, Lemonwood, Eugenia lemonwood
- Height × spread
- 2.7m × 2.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Average winter to - 10C (RHS H4)
- Flowers
- Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a handsome shrub whose oblong leaves have neat wavy margins, as though a thread has been pulled in order to slightly pucker the edges. The leaf surface is exceptionally glossy and smooth, looking rather silky, olive-green with a ruddy central vein. The foliage carries a pleasant, lemony aroma that gives the plant its common name. Small, clustered, pale-yellow flowers, honey scented, appear in spring. The individual flowers have five narrow oblong petals and long stamens protruding from between the petals. The Maori people combined the flowers with fat and use the mixture to anoint themselves, whilst the sap is used as a fragrance.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Stem colour
- Grey
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, honey-almond
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 2.7m
- Spread
- 2.5m
- Season of interest
- Spring
- Flowers in
- Spring
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Scented garden, Mediterranean garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Average winter to - 10C (RHS H4)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Wall cover, Structural
- Walls
- South, West facing
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost + grit for repotting
Use a free draining loam based compost rather than one which has been modified to be 'moisture retentive'.
Alternatively prepare a compost using three parts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3) to one part of (horticultural) sand or fine (horticultural) grit.
Planting
Protect & support young trees
Attach a newly planted tree or tall shrub over 1m to a tree stake to give support and prevent windrock. Use a tree guard to stop tree bark being eaten by animals, especially in areas with deer - removing bark injures a tree and in worst case can kill it.
Found in
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