Olearia odorata or scented tree daisy is endemic to the South Island. Its is found in lowland and montane shrubland and scrub, in the eastern parts from Marlborough to Otago, in Canterbury/Westland east of the main divide, and common in the Mackenzie Basin. A dark, bushy deciduous shrub that grows up to 4m tall, it has rather stiff interlacing branches, that are round in cross-section, although young branches are light fawn and downy, and are often flanged with narrow raisied ridges, one on either side of the stem, lined with fine grooves. It has small rather thick flat leaves that are dark green above and white underneath. Its flower buds are sticky, then small whitish scented flowers appear from December to February, followed by fluffy pale fawn to greyish white seed from January to March, that are dispersed by the wind.