Kahikatea
New Zealand's tallest native tree species, another long-lived podocarp, but naturally found in wet, low-lying swampy forest, so it tolerates damper, poorly drained soil noticeably better than rimu or kauri. Faster-growing than those two for a native conifer, though still slow by ordinary garden standards. Produces small, bright red fleshy fruit that kererū and tūī readily feed on, a genuine drawcard for native birds once the tree is old enough to fruit.
- Sun
- partial sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 600cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury
- Mature height
- 18m
- Attracts wildlife
- Kererū, Tūī
- Evergreen
- Yes
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast and Christchurch / Canterbury: September-October.
Growing stages
Planting & establishmentSpring
- Tolerates damper, poorly drained soil better than most other native trees, useful for a low-lying or boggy spot
- Choose a part-shade to full-sun position with room for long-term canopy spread
- Water regularly through the first couple of summers while establishing
Early growthFirst several years
- Grows faster than rimu or kauri for a native conifer, though still slow compared with most garden trees
- Generally trouble-free, with few significant pests or diseases
- Mulch around the base to retain moisture, particularly on free-draining sites
Maturing growth
- Continue allowing space as the tree develops its tall, columnar mature form
- Little ongoing maintenance is needed beyond watering in extended dry spells
- Tolerates wetter sites long-term better than rimu, kauri or most other garden trees
Fruiting maturity
- Mature trees produce small, bright red fleshy fruit that kererū and tūī readily feed on
- Fruiting is typically decades away for a garden-planted specimen, so treat this as a long-term native-garden investment
- Needs essentially no ongoing care once well established