New Zealand white pine
Dacrycarpus dacrydioides

Family: Podocarpaceae

What it is like

A tree. It can grow to 45 m high. The trunk can be 1.5 m through. It can spread 6-8 m wide. It is upright with a cone shaped crown. The bark is grey and scales off in flakes. Old trees can have buttresses. The leaves are cypress like. They have a bronze colour when mature. Trees are separately male and female. The cones have black nut-like seeds. The cones swell into a fleshy berry.

There are 7-9 Dacrycarpus species. They are in Asia and the Pacific.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate plant. They can grow in wet and swampy conditions. It will also grow in drier sites. In New Zealand it grows up to 600 m altitude. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Arboretum Tasmania. Hobart Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Europe, New Zealand (country/location of origin), Tasmania

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, gum

How it is grown

They can be grown from seed or cuttings.

It is slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Kahikatea, New Zealand Dacryberry, White pine

Synonyms

Podocarpus dacrydioides A. Rich; and others