Native Trees of New Zealand

Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Kauri, Kauri pine Size: 30-60m x15m Shape/Form: Narrowly columnar when young (ricker) Broadly spreading when mature. Lower branches fall away...

Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Kauri, Kauri pine Size: 30-60m x15m Shape/Form: Narrowly columnar when young (ricker) Broadly spreading when mature. Lower branches fall away leaving a domed heavy high canopy Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Lanceolate leathery leaves bronze to green Flowers: Long male brown cones. Rounded female round blue- green 60mm cones Soil Requirements: Average well drained soil Climatic Adaptation: Part shade to full sun Use & Features: Occurring from Te Paki in north to Pukenui (near Kawhia) in west & Te Puke in east. Waikato - most southern occurring area naturally Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Titoki, New Zealand Ash Size: 10 m x 8 m Shape/Form: Broadly spreading tree Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Alternate pinnate leaves – shiny mid green Flowers: Flowers red, in small, clustered, sprays. Fruit fleshy red partly surrounding a black seed and expanding from a furry brown capsule. Flowering from October to December; fruits from Nov to Aug. Large birds spread seed through the forest Soil Requirements: Fertile moist well drained loams Climatic Adaptation: Full sun – sensitive to frost & wind Use & Features: Endemic to North and South Island from Te Paki to Banks Peninsula. Native planting - fleshy red seed is edible - oil from seeds, fruits edible but acidic and rough Street tree – urban pollution tolerant Specimen or shade tree  Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Cabbage tree / Ti kouka, ti, palm lily Size: 5 – 10 m x 1 – 4 m Shape/Form: Erect palm like tree Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Long arching lance shaped to linear leaves – mid green. Dead leaves often forming a skirt around the base of the tufts. Flowers: Creamy white flowers in broad panicles 1m long followed by white or blue berries. Flower from Sept to Jan (often shorter), and seeds ripe from Dec to March. Birds disperse seed. Soil Requirements: Fertile moist soils Climatic Adaptation: Sun to part shade Use & Features: Endemic and common from the coast to 800m ASL Feature plant for structure & form; Native planting & revegetation; can  handle wet and dry situations. Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Kahikatea, white pine Size: 65 m x 15 m Shape/Form: Changing form from juvenile to mature tree Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Small soft scale like overlapping leaves, Bronze on juvenile trees dark green on adult tree Flowers: Male cones narrow & yellow on the tips of branches. Female cones fleshy orange & purple Soil Requirements: Moist to wet soils Climatic Adaptation: Sun to part shade Use & Features: Usually found in large forest  areas or as remnant bush on farmland - N.Z. tallest tree Specimen tree for wet sites Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Rimu, Red Pine Size: 40 m x 10 m Shape/Form: Conical trees rounding with age Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Trunk bear of branches ¾ of length. Trunk is stout 1.2-2m diameter, with dark brown bark falling off in thick large flakes Dark green scale like overlapping leaves prickly to touch on weeping stems Flowers: Male cones on the tips of branchlets with yellow pollen Female cone is single ovule in a red cup like scale. Flowers December to March, fruit between Feb and May. Soil Requirements: Humus rich well drained soil Climatic Adaptation: Sun to part shade - hardy Use & Features: Endemic to North, South and Stewart Island uncommon in large parts of eastern South Island Specimen tree in large garden & park; Native restoration. Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Rewarewa, NZ honeysuckle Size: 30 m x 10 m Shape/Form: Columnar tree Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Alternate narrowly oblong dark green leaves with serrated edges – new growth like velvet 30cm long – mature leaves stiff & leathery 10-15 cm long Flowers: Tubular red flowers with yellow stamens in clusters becoming a pod like brown capsule. Attracts nectar feeding birds. Flowers appear September, October to December. Fruit capsules from the previous year  from Oct to Dec Soil Requirements: Poor well drained soils Climatic Adaptation: Sun – protect from frosts when young Use & Features: Occurs from coastal forests to the low ranges. Pioneer plant in native revegetation Street trees parks & garden; excellent for narrow spaces, in avenues, but can be sensitive to wind. Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Kanuka / White Tea Tree Size: 20 m x 5 m Shape/Form: Bushy shrub to small tree Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Small soft lanceolate leaves mid to dark green or red Flowers: Prolific solitary cup shaped flowers with 5 petals - white pink or red in spring followed by small round seed capsules Soil Requirements: Poor well drained Climatic Adaptation: Sun to part shade Use & Features: Revegation / native planting wind & salt resistant Pioneer’ species Shrub border – flowers a feature although brushwood can suffer from sooty mould Many different cultivars Fire wood & nectar source for bees Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Manuka / Tea Tree Size: 4mx3m Shape/Form: Bushy shrub to small tree Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Small stiff sharp pointed lanceolate leaves mid to dark green or red Flowers: Prolific double red flowers to 10mm across, in spring followed by small round  seed capsules Soil Requirements: Poor, well drained Climatic Adaptation: Sun to part shade Use & Features: Dense red flowers, fine foliage scented when crushed Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Pohutukawa Size: 20 m x 10 – 20 m Shape/Form: Broadly spreading large tree often with horizontal branches Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Opposite elliptic leathery leaves dark green above & velvety grey underneath Flowers: Red stamens with yellow tipped anthers followed by a  small cream seed capsule Soil Requirements: Poor well drained sandy loams Climatic Adaptation: Full sun Use & Features: Red flowers early summer. Often multi stemmed Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Tanekaha / Celery pine Size: 20 m x 6 m Shape/Form: Narrowly conical Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Cladodes (modified stems) are similar in shape to celery leaves & are arranged on branchlets in whorls Flowers: Male – red catkin like in terminal clusters Female – small solitary purple cones on the ends of cladodes Soil Requirements: Moist well drained loams Climatic Adaptation: Sun or part shade Use & Features: Found from sea level to c.1000 m a.s.l. Tanekaha is a common tree in northern New Zealand where it often found growing in association with kauri (Agathis australis) on ridge lines. Specimen tree in parks & large gardens Very flexible stems – were used as fishing rods. Red dye is extracted  from the bark. Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Karo Size: 9x4m Shape/Form: Shrub or small tree Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Alternate thick, leathery, elliptic leaves, greyish-white under sides, 5-7 cm long. Flowers: Flowers are 12 mm across, dark red to crimson, well scented. Seed pods with sticky black seeds. Soil Requirements: Average soil, well drained Climatic Adaptation: Best in full sun and tolerate light frost Use & Features: Thick leaves lighter colour below; dark red to black flowers; hardy Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Tarata / Lemonwood Size: 12 m x 5 m Shape/Form: Large tree with spreading open crown Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Simple elliptic glossy light green leaves with wavy margins creamy mid-vein Flowers: Star shaped creamy yellow flowers in dense terminal clusters – strongly honey scented becoming a small woody black capsule Soil Requirements: Most moist well drained soils Climatic Adaptation: Sun to part shade Use & Features: Quick & easy to grow - good shelter belt tree Leaves are lemon scented when crushed Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Kohuhu (Tar seed) Size: 8mx4m Shape/Form: Small upright conical tree Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Simple oblong leaves with wavy margins – glossy dark green above paler underneath, thin leaved Flowers: Solitary dark red flowers on terminal shoots with a strong honey scent becoming a mature black capsule Soil Requirements: Most moist well drained soils Climatic Adaptation: Sun to part shade Use & Features: Light canopy, dark stems, scented flowers Many cultivars for garden & landscape use Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Totara Size: 30 m x 6 m Shape/Form: Broadly conical tree Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Linear leathery leaves brown to dark green & sharp to touch 15-30mm x 3-4mm Flowers: Males small green maturing to yellow pollen cones Female – in clusters becoming a swollen red fruit with ovoid seed, sweet to taste. Fruits take a year to ripen so can be found through the year but frequently between April and May Soil Requirements: Loamy well drained soils Climatic Adaptation: Sun to part shade Use & Features: Endemic through most of New Zealand. Large gardens, farms & parks  Makes dense hedging e.g. Hamilton Gardens Timber very durable; fence posts Notes: Family: Genus & Species Common Name: Kowhai. Size: 6-9m tall, 3-4m wide branches spreading or drooping Shape/Form: Spreading small tree or shrub. Juvenile form has divaricating habit. Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen Foliage: Pinnate leaves to 15cm long with up to 40 pairs of dark green leaflets. Flowers: Golden yellow pea like flowers in spring. Soil Requirements: Moderate fertility, well drained soils. Climatic Adaptation: Require full sun Use & Features: The yellow flowers of this outstanding small tree are beautiful in early spring. Notes: