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 .
Toatoa
Phyllocladus toatoa
Endemic northern celery pine with flattened leaf-like phylloclades, slender crowns, and distinctive conifer seed structures.
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Poor Knights Houhere
Hoheria equitum
Island-endemic lacebark tree with yellow-green elliptic leaves and white axillary summer flowers.
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Makamaka
Ackama rosifolia
Elegant evergreen tree with rose-like foliage and delicate flower panicles, endemic to the northern North Island.
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Tātoki
Alectryon excelsus
Tātoki is fast-growing with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Taraire
Beilschmiedia tarairi
Taraire is long-lived with notable restoration use; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Tawa
Beilschmiedia tawa
Tawa is coastal-tolerant with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Karaka
Corynocarpus laevigatus
Corynocarpus Laevigatus is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Kahikatea
Dacrycarpus dacrydioides
Kahikatea is fast-growing with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Rimu
Dacrydium cupressinum
Rimu is fast-growing with notable restoration use; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Whēkī-Ponga
Dicksonia fibrosa
Whēkī-ponga is bird-attracting with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Whēkī
Dicksonia squarrosa
Whēkī is resilient with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Chatham Grass Tree
Dracophyllum arboreum
Chatham Grass Tree is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Kohekohe Dysoxylum
Dysoxylum spectabile
Kohekohe is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Kohekohe Didymocheton
Didymocheton spectabilis
Didymocheton spectabilis, or Kohekohe, is a stunning native tree with glossy leaves and unique trunk-borne flowers.
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Hīnau
Elaeocarpus dentatus
Elaeocarpus Dentatus is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Pōkākā
Elaeocarpus hookerianus
Pōkākā is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Whau
Entelea arborescens
Whau is wind-hardy with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Black Beech Lowland
Fuscospora solandri
Fuscospora Solandri is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Hard Beech
Fuscospora truncata
Fuscospora Truncata is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Broadleaf
Griselinia lucida
Broadleaf is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Bog Pine
Halocarpus bidwillii
Bog Pine is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Monoao
Halocarpus kirkii
Monoao is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Pigeonwood
Hedycarya arborea
Pigeonwood is coastal-tolerant with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Narrow-Leaved Lacebark
Hoheria angustifolia
Narrow-leaved Lacebark is resilient with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Mountain Ribbonwood
Hoheria glabrata
Mountain Ribbonwood is resilient with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Lacebark
Hoheria lyallii
Lacebark is wind-hardy with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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New Zealand Lacebark
Hoheria populnea
New Zealand Lacebark is resilient with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Long-Leaved Lacebark
Hoheria sexstylosa
Long-leaved Lacebark is coastal-tolerant with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Tāwari
Ixerba brexioides
Tāwari is long-lived with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Rewarewa
Knightia excelsa
Rewarewa is bird-attracting with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Pukatea
Laurelia novae-zelandiae
Pukatea is coastal-tolerant with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Mingimingi
Leucopogon fasciculatus
Tall, endemic New Zealand shrub or small tree with fragrant white flowers and bird-attracting red to white fruits.
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Kawaka
Libocedrus plumosa
Kawaka is long-lived with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Silver Beech
Lophozonia menziesii
Silver Beech is a deciduous native tree found throughout New Zealand's South Island forests.
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Silver Pine
Manoao colensoi
Endemic conifer prized for its exceptionally durable, rot-resistant timber. This slow-growing tree thrives in acidic swamps with unique tissue for waterlogged soils.
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Pōhutukawa
Metrosideros excelsa
Pōhutukawa is resilient with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Northern Rātā
Metrosideros robusta
Northern Rātā is bird-attracting with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Southern Rātā
Metrosideros umbellata
Southern Rātā is long-lived with notable shelter value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Willow-Leaved Maire
Mida salicifolia
Willow-leaved Maire is a rare hemi-parasitic tree endemic to New Zealand's North Island.
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Black Maire
Nestegis cunninghamii
Black Maire is coastal-tolerant with notable restoration use; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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White Maire
Nestegis lanceolata
White Maire is coastal-tolerant with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Red Beech
Nothofagus fusca
Red Beech is resilient with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Black Beech Mountain
Nothofagus solandri
Black Beech is bird-attracting with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Coastal Tree Daisy
Olearia solandri
Coastal Tree Daisy is coastal-tolerant with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Townsons Tree Daisy
Olearia townsonii
Olearia townsonii is a beautiful native daisy tree with distinctive foliage and white flowers.
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Chatham Island Akeake
Olearia traversiorum
Chatham Island Akeake is coastal-tolerant with notable shelter value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Island Milk Tree
Paratrophis banksii
Island Milk Tree is resilient with notable restoration use; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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Three Kings Kaikomako
Pennantia baylisiana
Three Kings Kaikomako is one of the world's rarest trees, a stunning island endemic rescued from the brink of extinction.
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