Native Trees of New Zealand | NZ Native Plants

Trees category hero image

Introduction

Overview

New Zealand's native trees are vital to the country's unique ecosystems, providing habitat, stabilizing soils, and supporting biodiversity. The forests are home to ancient giants like kauri (Agathis australis), tōtara (Podocarpus totara), and rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum), as well as fast-growing pioneers such as mānuka ( Leptospermum scoparium ) and kānuka (Kunzea ericoides). These trees are valued for their ecological roles, cultural significance, and use in restoration and landscaping projects across the country.

Many of New Zealand's native trees are evergreen, with distinctive forms that define the character of our landscapes. They provide habitat for native birds and insects, help prevent erosion, and hold immense cultural significance for both Māori and European New Zealanders.

Explore our collection of native New Zealand trees below to learn about their care requirements, cultural significance, and how to incorporate them into your garden or landscape. For our complete native plant collection, visit our main plant guide .

Kaikōmako

Kaikōmako

Pennantia corymbosa

Kaikōmako is a distinctive native tree with clusters of white flowers and orange berries.

Kawakawa (Piper excelsum)

Kawakawa

Piper excelsum

A distinctive small tree with heart-shaped leaves and jointed stems, renowned for its significant medicinal properties in traditional Māori rongoā.

Pittosporum Colensoi

Colenso's Pittosporum

Pittosporum colensoi

Colenso's Pittosporum is wind-hardy with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Tāwhiri Karo

Tāwhiri Karo

Pittosporum cornifolium

Unique epiphytic shrub with glossy whorled leaves and fragrant flowers, often found perching in forest giants.

Pittosporum Crassifolium

Kāro

Pittosporum crassifolium

Kāro is coastal-tolerant with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Kahurangi Pittosporum

Kahurangi Pittosporum

Pittosporum dallii

Exceedingly rare mountain tree with fragrant white flowers and distinctive toothed leaves, endemic to Kahurangi.

Pittosporum Eugenioides

Lemonwood

Pittosporum eugenioides

Lemonwood is resilient with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Heart-leaved Kōhūhū (Pittosporum obcordatum)

Heart-leaved Kōhūhū

Pittosporum obcordatum

A rare and elegant columnar shrub or small tree with tiny heart-shaped leaves and a distinctive divaricating growth habit, specialized for fertile lowland river flats.

Red-Flowered Pittosporum (Pittosporum patulum)

Red-Flowered Pittosporum

Pittosporum patulum

A rare and threatened South Island shrub or small tree with a distinctive upright form and sweetly scented flowers, naturally at home in montane forest margins.

Northern Kōhūhū

Northern Kōhūhū

Pittosporum pimeleoides

Rare and delicate northern shrub with wiry stems and highly fragrant yellow-and-red winter flowers.

Pittosporum Tenuifolium

Kōhūhū

Pittosporum tenuifolium

Kōhūhū is fast-growing with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Pittosporum Turneri

Turner's Pittosporum

Pittosporum turneri

Turner's Pittosporum is long-lived with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Plagianthus Regius

Ribbonwood

Plagianthus regius

Ribbonwood is coastal-tolerant with notable restoration use; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Planchonella Costata

Tawāpou

Planchonella costata

Tawāpou is fast-growing with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Hall's Totara (Podocarpus hallii)

Hall's Totara

Podocarpus hallii

Podocarpus hallii, or Hall's Totara, is a majestic native conifer with narrow leaves and red berries.

Mountain Tōtara

Mountain Tōtara

Podocarpus laetus

Mountain Tōtara is a hardy native coniferous tree found in high-altitude forests.

Snow Tōtara

Snow Tōtara

Podocarpus nivalis

Snow Tōtara is a low-growing native conifer adapted to alpine and subalpine environments.

Podocarpus Totara

Tōtara

Podocarpus totara

Tōtara is long-lived with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Prumnopitys Ferruginea

Miro

Prumnopitys ferruginea

Miro is fast-growing with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Prumnopitys Taxifolia

Mataī

Prumnopitys taxifolia

Mataī is resilient with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Pseudopanax Arboreus

Five Finger

Pseudopanax arboreus

Five Finger is wind-hardy with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Pseudopanax Crassifolius

Lancewood

Pseudopanax crassifolius

Lancewood is resilient with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Mountain Lancewood

Mountain Lancewood

Pseudopanax linearis

Structural subalpine tree with unique linear foliage and distinct growth stages, found in high South Island forests.

Raukawa

Raukawa

Raukaua edgerleyi

Raukawa is an elegant evergreen tree prized for its glossy green, highly aromatic foliage.

Pāte

Pāte

Schefflera digitata

Pāte is a distinctive native tree with large palmate leaves and clusters of small flowers.

Coastal Kōwhai

Coastal Kōwhai

Sophora chathamica

Coastal Kōwhai is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Kōwhai

Kōwhai

Sophora microphylla

Kōwhai is New Zealand's national flower, producing spectacular golden blooms in spring.

Small-leaved Milk Tree

Small-Leaved Milk Tree

Streblus heterophyllus

Small-leaved Milk Tree is a rare native tree with distinctive variable leaf shapes.

Three Kings Milk Tree

Three Kings Milk Tree

Streblus smithii

Three Kings Milk Tree is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Syzygium Maire

Swamp Maire

Syzygium maire

Swamp Maire is bird-attracting with notable restoration use; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Weinmannia Racemosa

Kāmahi Tree

Weinmannia racemosa

Weinmannia Racemosa is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Makomako (Aristotelia serrata)

Makomako

Aristotelia serrata

Fast-growing small tree with deeply serrated leaves, colourful flowers, and edible berries; a vital pioneer species.

Hutu (Ascarina lucida)

Hutu

Ascarina lucida

Ornamental evergreen small tree with glossy foliage and white berries, endemic to New Zealand forests.

Rangiora (Brachyglottis repanda)

Rangiora

Brachyglottis repanda

Fast-growing large shrub or small tree with broad, papery leaves and large clusters of creamy flowers; known as "bushman's friend."

Marbleleaf (Carpodetus serratus)

Marbleleaf

Carpodetus serratus

Discover how to grow and care for Marbleleaf (Carpodetus serratus), a beautiful and ecologically important native tree of New Zealand.

Tree Coprosma (Coprosma arborea)

Tree Coprosma

Coprosma arborea

Learn to grow and care for Tree Coprosma (Coprosma arborea), a beautiful and resilient native New Zealand tree known as Mamangi.

Chatham Islands Coprosma (Coprosma chathamica)

Chatham Islands Coprosma

Coprosma chathamica

Learn how to grow and care for the Chatham Islands Coprosma (Coprosma chathamica), a hardy and attractive native tree from a unique part of New Zealand.

Tutu (Coriaria arborea)

Tutu

Coriaria arborea

Tutu shrub/tree with racemes of flowers and black ‘berries’; identification, habitat and cultivation notes (toxic plant).

Akeake (Dodonaea viscosa)

Akeake

Dodonaea viscosa

Akeake is a fast-growing, wind-hardy small tree with wavy leaves and papery seed capsules, traditionally valued for its exceptionally hard wood.

Mountain Neinei (Dracophyllum traversii)

Mountain Neinei

Dracophyllum traversii

Mountain Neinei is an iconic, slow-growing native tree with reddish-brown rosettes of leaves, primarily found in cool, wet montane forests.

Kānuka (Kunzea ericoides)

Kānuka

Kunzea ericoides

Kunzea ericoides, or Kānuka, is a prolific and hardy native tree, essential for forest regeneration and valued for its medicinal properties and hard, durable wood.

Pāhautea (Libocedrus bidwillii)

Pāhautea

Libocedrus bidwillii

Pāhautea, or Mountain Cedar, is a slow-growing, elegant native conifer with scale-like leaves and a tapered crown, found in subalpine and montane forests.

Ramarama (Lophomyrtus bullata)

Ramarama

Lophomyrtus bullata

Ramarama is a beautiful evergreen tree with distinctive blistered leaves that turn deep reddish-bronze in winter, producing white flowers and dark berries.

Rōhutu (Lophomyrtus obcordata)

Rōhutu

Lophomyrtus obcordata

Rōhutu is a slender evergreen tree with heart-shaped leaves and attractive white flowers, followed by berries that change from red to black as they ripen.

Puka (Meryta sinclairii)

Puka

Meryta sinclairii

Puka is an iconic tree from the Three Kings Islands, renowned for its large, glossy green leaves and robust, tropical appearance.

Bartlett's Rātā (Metrosideros bartlettii)

Bartlett's Rātā

Metrosideros bartlettii

One of the world's rarest trees, endemic to New Zealand's far north and distinguished by its white flowers and unique papery bark.

Kermadec Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros kermadecensis)

Kermadec Pōhutukawa

Metrosideros kermadecensis

Stunning evergreen tree endemic to New Zealand's Kermadec Islands, prized for its year-round crimson flowers and its role as a resilient coastal pioneer.

Ngaio (Myoporum laetum)

Ngaio

Myoporum laetum

Fast-growing coastal tree with bright green, translucent-spotted leaves and attractive white flowers, highly valued for its ability to withstand salt-laden winds.