pink pine
Halocarpus biformis | pink pine, yellow pine
A hardy small tree displaying soft, whipcord-like foliage that ranges in colour from dark to yellow-green. Typically featuring a short trunk topped by a dense head of scale-like leaves, it may even exhibit both juvenile and adult foliage simultaneously. Remarkably resilient, it can tolerate alpine environments, though it may adopt a more shrubby form in colder climates. It often has an appealing Christmas tree-like shape as young trees have a dense, conical habit that matures into a more irregular and open shape with horizontal to slightly drooping branches, lending it a graceful appearance.
typical habitat.
montane forest
subalpine scrub
subalpine forest
scrubland
drainage.
well drained
sun.
full sun
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 10m
width | 5m / 40cm (trunk)
pollinators calendar.
fruiting | February-April
did you know?
Pink pine (Halocarpus biformis) likely lacks a Māori name, suggesting limited traditional use, possibly due to its prevalence in less frequently visited areas. However, early European settlers utilised it for practical purposes such as fence posts, railway sleepers, and house blocks.
