manoao

Manoao colensoi | manoao, silver pine

 

A slow-growing, endemic conifer, small to medium in size and evergreen. It features a straight, clear trunk and slender, weeping branchlets, often displaying a mix of juvenile and adult leaf forms. Initially cone-shaped, it develops a tall, moderately spreading crown with age. Preferring partial shade and moist, free-draining, acidic soils, it is tolerant of hard frosts. While found in both the North and South Islands, it is uncommon in the North Island, mainly occurring around the mountains of the Central Volcanic Plateau. It also produces small, fleshy cones.

lowland forest

montane forest

moist

wet

partial shade

full sun

height | 15m

width | 5m/ 60cm (trunk)

flowering | Throughout the year

fruiting | Throughout the year

Silver pine (Manoao colensoi), along with pink pine (Halocarpus biformis), is a primary natural source of the chemicals manool and manoyl oxide, which serve as alternatives to ambergris in the perfume industry. To date, there appear to have been no commercial cultivation efforts specifically aimed at producing manoao for this application.