kahikatea
Dacrycarpus dacrydioides | rimu, red pine
The tallest tree in New Zealand, Kahikatea trees can live for 600 years. The tree is a podocarp, meaning it has fleshy cones instead of flowers. The fruit of the kahikatea is a small, red berry that is eaten by birds. The wood of the kahikatea is light and strong, and it is used for a variety of purposes, including construction, furniture, and boatbuilding. Kahikatea trees are an important part of the New Zealand forest ecosystem. They provide habitat for birds and other animals, and they help to stabilise the soil.
typical habitat.
lowland forest
swamp forest
floodplains
drainage.
wet
moist
sun.
full shade
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 65m
width | 5m / 1.5 - 2.5m (trunk)
pollinators calendar.
flowering | October - January
fruiting | February - April
did you know?
Kahikatea held significant practical and cultural value for Māori. Its berries (koroī) provided food, while soot from the heartwood was used for tā moko (traditional tattooing). The wood was fashioned into spears and waka (canoes), and medicinally, it treated stomach and bladder ailments.