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syn: kahikatea, white pine

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides

$8.00

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, commonly known as kahikatea or white pine, is New Zealand’s tallest native tree, reaching heights of up to 65 meters. It’s a podocarp conifer, known for its slender, straight trunk and long lifespan, potentially living for 600 years. Kahikatea is found in lowland forests, particularly in swampy areas, and is adaptable to various conditions including wet and lowland forest environments. 

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Description:
  • Size and Form:

    Kahikatea is a tall, slender tree with a straight trunk, reaching heights of up to 65 meters. 

  • Leaves:

    Juvenile trees have drooping, needle-like leaves, often with a bronze tinge. Adult trees have dark green, scale-like leaves that are compressed and overlapping. 

  • Reproduction:

    It’s a dioecious species, with male trees bearing small pollen-bearing cones and female trees bearing seeds on bright red, fleshy fruits (koroi). 

  • Habitat:

    It prefers moist, swampy areas, often found in lowland forests. 

  • Wood:
    The wood is white to pale yellow-brown, easily worked, and was traditionally used for various purposes, including food storage containers and waka (canoes). 

Last Updated on September 23, 2025 by admin

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Cultivation Guide

  • Sunlight:

    Kahikatea thrives in full sun but can tolerate some shade, especially when young. 

  • Soil:

    It prefers moist, even wet, conditions, making it suitable for swampy areas and well-drained lowland sites. 

  • Propagation:

    Kahikatea can be propagated from seeds or cuttings. 

  • Uses:

    It’s suitable for large gardens, reforestation projects, and revegetation plantings. It’s also valued for its ecological role as a food source for native birds and its contribution to biodiversity. 

  • Considerations:
    While it can tolerate wet conditions, it may suffer dieback if a site dries out significantly. 

Last Updated on September 23, 2025 by admin

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Unit

1.5 litre pot

Grade

800mm-1m

Annual Production

200

Supplier

Payless Plants

Comment

Available stock can vary, all the way down to none available, depending on sales demand and where we are in the production cycle.

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