Trees Active during the day

tarata

Pittosporum eugenioides

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The largest of New Zealand's Pittosporums, the Tarata is a sensory delight known for its shimmering wavy leaves and intoxicating lemon-honey scent. It is a vital 'nursery' tree that brings life and fragrance to any backyard.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Grows up to 12m (39ft) tall and 5m (16ft) wide; trunk diameter up to 60cm (24in)

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Colors

Mottled yellow-green leaves with a bright white midrib; yellow-cream flowers; black seed capsules

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Key Features

Distinctive wavy or undulating leaf margins
Intense lemon-like fragrance when leaves are crushed
Large terminal clusters of honey-scented cream flowers
Bright white, prominent central leaf vein (midrib)

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours Daylight for growth; evening for peak floral fragrance

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Season October-December (Flowering)

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Diet Autotrophic; produces energy via photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and soil nutrients.

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Habitat Forest margins, stream banks, and coastal forests; very common in suburban gardens and parks.

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Where Does the tarata Live?

Tarata is an endemic treasure found throughout New Zealand, naturally occurring on both the North and South Islands. It thrives in a variety of environments from sea level up to montane forest edges at approximately 600 meters. While it is native only to New Zealand, its beauty and hardiness have led to it being cultivated in temperate gardens across the United Kingdom, coastal North America, and Australia.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

1 Countries

268K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

NZ New Zealand

4,886

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

Tarata, popularly known as Lemonwood, is a vigorous and hardy evergreen tree that acts as a vital pioneer species in New Zealand's ecosystems. It is often among the first trees to colonize forest margins and cleared land, providing a fast-growing canopy that shelters slower-growing, shade-loving species. Its dense, bushy growth habit makes it an exceptional provider of cover for nesting birds and a windbreak for smaller garden plants.

While it appears stationary, the Tarata is a hub of biological interaction. In spring, it produces a massive display of highly fragrant flowers that release a heavy, honey-like scent, particularly potent in the early evening. This attracts a wide variety of native insects and birds. The tree's leaves contain specialized oils and saponins which serve as a natural defense against many pests, though it remains a preferred host for several species of native moths and scale insects.

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Camera Tips

To capture the wildlife attracted to your Tarata, position your camera 2-3 meters away from a cluster of flowers during the spring months. The yellow-cream blossoms are a high-traffic zone for pollinators. If your camera supports high-definition video, aim for the terminal ends of the branches where the flower clusters are densest; this is where you'll catch native bees and butterflies in action.

For bird enthusiasts, mount the camera higher up in the mid-canopy or near a sturdy branch that provides a clear view of the seed capsules. Native birds like the Tui and Bellbird (Korimako) are frequently drawn to the tree for nectar and to feed on insects living within the foliage. Because Tarata leaves are glossy and highly reflective, try to angle your camera slightly downward or north-facing to prevent sun glare from triggering false motion alerts or washing out your images.

Don't stop recording when the sun goes down. The Tarata’s evening fragrance is a beacon for nocturnal life. Set your camera to its most sensitive motion setting at night to capture the various species of moths that visit the flowers. If using a trail camera with an infrared flash, ensure it is placed at least 1.5 meters away from the nearest leaves to avoid 'white-out' caused by the IR light reflecting off the light-colored midribs and wavy leaf edges.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with tarata.

Kohuhu

Smaller leaves that lack the lemon scent when crushed, and dark purple/black flowers compared to Tarata's cream ones.

Karo

Has much thicker, leathery leaves with a fuzzy underside and dark red/purple flowers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

As a plant, Tarata is most active during the day for photosynthesis. However, its biological 'showtime' is in the late afternoon and early evening when its flowers release their strongest honey-like fragrance to attract pollinators.

Ensuring the tree is well-watered during summer will help it produce a healthy crop of flowers and seeds. Native nectar-feeders like Tui are attracted to the spring blossoms, while other birds utilize the dense foliage for nesting and protection.

Tarata are autotrophs, meaning they make their own food. They use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce sugars through photosynthesis, while drawing essential minerals like nitrogen and phosphorus from the soil.

Yes, Tarata is one of the most popular native trees in New Zealand suburbs. It is frequently used for privacy hedging because it grows quickly and responds well to pruning, though it can grow into a large, beautiful specimen tree if left alone.

Tarata is generally much larger than Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium). The easiest way to tell is to crush a leaf; Tarata has a strong lemon scent, while Kohuhu does not. Tarata leaves also have a distinctive bright white midrib and much wavier edges.

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