Olearia fragrantissima or fragrant tree daisy is endemic to the  South Island, where it is found in the eastern and south-eastern parts from Banks Peninsula to Southland. It grows in coastal to lower montane, from sea-level to 300m asl, usually in grey scrub, on forest margins or shrublands. Sometimes found on the margins of estuarine or saltmarsh vegetation in places which would be subject to saline water in extremes of tide, but also found on gravelly soils often on the margins of steep gullies, gorges and in boulder field. A small deciduous tree that grows up to 6m tall, it has an erect habit, with reddish coloured bark on its young rather stiffly zig-zagging branchlets, that become a fawn colour when older, and can peel off in ribbony strips. It has rather thin pale-green leaves that are covered in a silky tomentum underneath. When in flower from October to December, the small pale creamy yellow clusters of flowers smell of ripe peaches or fruit salad. The flowers are followed by fluffy pale fawn seeds from December that are dispersed by the wind. It will withstand very dry conditions and is particularly wind tolerant. The scent from its flowers make it a worthwhile addition to any garden.