Lemonwood

Sun

Full sun or partial shade; shelter from cold winds.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; once rooted, water during prolonged dry spells. Avoid persistently wet soil.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil; tolerates clay, loam or sand if drainage is good.

Height

20-40 ft (6-12 m)

Spread

13-26 ft (4-8 m)

Flowers

Spring; small, fragrant yellow to cream flowers in clusters.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy, light green leaves with wavy edges and a conspicuous pale midrib; crushed leaves smell of lemon.

Growth

Fast in mild conditions with adequate moisture.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   8 ft (2.5 m)

3. After 2 years

   10 ft (3.1 m)

4. After 3 years

   12 ft (3.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   15 ft (4.7 m)

About 13 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant in spring in cooler districts so roots establish before winter.
• Water deeply through the first two growing seasons, allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor.
• Stake young trees only where needed, using a flexible tie, and remove support once the roots hold firmly.

Pruning. Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches in late spring, once frost risk has passed. Trim screens lightly after flowering; regular light trimming gives a better result than allowing them to become overgrown.

Spring

Plant young trees after severe frost risk has passed and water them in thoroughly.

Spring

Refresh mulch and feed lightly if growth is weak.

Late spring

Remove frost-damaged growth once healthy new shoots show which branches are alive.

Early summer

Trim hedges and screens after flowering.

Summer

Water young plants deeply during dry weather and check leaves for scale insects.

Autumn

Check tree ties and drainage; avoid heavy feeding that encourages soft winter growth.

Winter

Protect young plants with horticultural fleece during unusually hard frosts.

• Use as a tall evergreen boundary screen where there is room for its eventual width.
• Train as a single-stemmed tree above shade-tolerant shrubs and ferns.
• Pair with New Zealand flax and hebes for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Place near a path where its spring fragrance can be enjoyed, leaving enough space to avoid repeated hard pruning.

Garden styles it suits: Coastal, Woodland, Green on green, Sensory garden, Low-maintenance and Pacific Northwest woodland.

Plant it with: New Zealand flax, Hebe, Camellia, Hydrangea, Sweet box and Soft shield fern.

Wildlife: The fragrant flowers attract visiting insects, including bees. Birds may eat the seeds and use the dense evergreen canopy for shelter.

• Root rot in waterlogged soil: improve drainage before planting and avoid frequent watering of already wet ground.
• Frost scorch and windburn: choose a sheltered site, protect young plants during cold snaps and wait until late spring before removing damaged growth.
• Scale insects and associated sooty mould: inspect stems and leaf undersides; treat affected areas with a horticultural oil labelled for the plant and pest.
• Sparse lower growth in crowded or shaded screens: give plants adequate light and space, and trim lightly from a young age.

Lemonwood is not generally known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, although species-specific information is limited. Its leaves, capsules and sticky seeds are not food; discourage chewing or eating them, as ingestion may cause stomach upset.

• Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium)

  Usually has smaller leaves, dark slender stems and small dark purple flowers; lemonwood has larger, lemon-scented leaves with a prominent pale midrib and yellowish flowers.

• Sweet pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum)

  Has darker leaves, conspicuously wavy margins, white flowers and orange capsules; lemonwood has lighter foliage with a distinct lemon scent when crushed.

• Japanese pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira)

  Has thick, leathery, round-ended leaves clustered at shoot tips and larger white flowers that age yellow; lemonwood has thinner, pointed, wavy-edged leaves.

Lemonwood refers to the lemon scent of its crushed leaves, while eugenioides means resembling Eugenia, a reference to its foliage.

Propagation. Sow cleaned, fresh seed in a sheltered cold frame; germination can be slow and uneven. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer to reproduce a particular plant.

Accepted botanical name

Pittosporum eugenioides

Native range

New Zealand North, New Zealand South and Tasmania.

Measured

Average height 840 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.