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 .
Toro
Myrsine salicina
Elegant evergreen tree with long, narrow, leathery leaves and small purple fruit, commonly found in lowland to montane forests throughout New Zealand.
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Coastal Maire
Nestegis apetala
Coastal Maire is a handsome evergreen tree with broad, leathery leaves, resilient in exposed maritime conditions and found in coastal forests.
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Narrow-leaved Maire
Nestegis montana
Elegant evergreen tree with slender branches and very narrow, leathery leaves, typically found in montane and subalpine forests throughout New Zealand.
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Oval-Leaved Pittosporum
Pittosporum ellipticum
Handsome tree or large shrub with leathery, elliptic leaves and clusters of fragrant dark flowers, primarily found in coastal and lowland forests of the North Island.
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Hutton's Kōhūhū
Pittosporum huttonianum
Attractive small tree or shrub with silvery-grey foliage and dark red flowers, endemic to Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.
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Karo
Pittosporum ralphii
Hardy evergreen shrub or small tree with leathery leaves and fragrant dark red flowers, often found in coastal and lowland areas of the North Island.
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Haekaro
Pittosporum umbellatum
Attractive small tree or shrub with leathery leaves and umbels of fragrant red flowers, endemic to the coastal and lowland forests of the northern North Island.
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Slender Kōhūhū
Pittosporum virgatum
Rare and delicate native tree with a distinct juvenile stage of interlaced branches, maturing into an elegant tree with fragrant dark red flowers.
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Fierce Lancewood
Pseudopanax ferox
Striking and rare native tree known for its unusual, stiffly-toothed juvenile leaves that point downwards, eventually maturing into a more conventional tree form.
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Kāmahi
Pterophylla racemosa
New Zealand's most abundant forest tree, an essential pioneer species producing spikes of white flowers and valued for its hard timber and tannin-rich bark.
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Forest Maire
Pterophylla sylvicola
Medium-sized evergreen tree endemic to the northern North Island, known for its glossy compound leaves and spikes of small white flowers.
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Tāwheowheo
Quintinia serrata
Attractive evergreen tree with mottled, serrated leaves and spikes of small white flowers, typical of the wet forests of the South Island's West Coast.
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Godley's Kōwhai
Sophora godleyi
Elegant native tree with pendulous branches and spectacular golden-yellow flowers, endemic to the central North Island and well-adapted to limestone regions.
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Long-Keel Kōwhai
Sophora longicarinata
A graceful limestone-loving kōwhai from the northern South Island, distinguished by its exceptionally long-keeled yellow flowers and fine, feathery foliage.
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Willow-Leaf Hebe
Veronica salicifolia (synonym)
Fast-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with willow-like leaves and drooping spikes of fragrant white to pale lilac flowers, a quintessential part of the New Zealand bush.
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Koromiko
Veronica stricta
Important Rongoā plant and hardy pioneer shrub featuring long pale green leaves and dense spikes of white flowers, thriving in open and disturbed habitats.
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