Kahikatea Trees For Sale

Kahikatea - Best Dacrycarpus Dacrydioides Trees In New Zealand!

Growing NZ-native trees such as Kahikatea in your garden delivers a vast range of benefits:

• They are visual plants that add impact to a space.
• They can be used to provide shade, screening, and shelter.
• They attract birds.
• Greater biodiversity is created.
• Street appeal can be greatly enhanced.
• Children can learn the plants and become more involved with nature.
• These plants will bring you pleasure for many years to come.

We have the largest variety of Dacrycarpus plants, and the right one for your space. Many of these amazing plants have been grown from eco-sourced seed and then multiplied in our nursery. They are thriving and ready for their new home. We stock only the highest quality plants, with each plant packed and transported with extreme care to ensure it arrives to you in the same condition it was in when it left the nursery. If you are wanting to buy a Kahikatea tree, shop with confidence from the best in the industry.

Kahikatea Questions

1. What conditions do Dacrycarpus dacrydioides like to grow in?

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, or kahikatea, is a native New Zealand tree that prefers to grow in moist soils. It is naturally found in lowland and montane forests. They are tolerant of poor drainage and heavier soils but do grow better on well-drained sites. They also prefer a full sun or partial shade position. They can tolerate a wide range of climates, including coastal environments, but grow best in warm, humid conditions.

2. How big do Kahikatea trees grow?

Kahikatea is the tallest native tree in New Zealand, reaching heights of up to 60 metres. The trunk can grow up to 1.5 metres in diameter. Kahikatea trees are typically conical in shape, with long, slender branches and drooping leaves.

Kahikatea are slow-growing trees, but can live for many years. The oldest recorded tree was over 600 years old when it was felled in 1996.

3. Why are Kahikatea important?

Kahikatea trees are an important part of the New Zealand ecosystem. They provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including birds, insects, and lizards. They were and still are used by Māori for medicine, building materials, and food.

Kahikatea are truly magnificent trees. It is a symbol of New Zealand's native forest and a reminder of the country's rich natural heritage.

4. What are the leaves of the Kahikatea?

The leaves of Kahikatea vary depending on the age of the tree. Juvenile kahikatea trees have flat, needle-like leaves that are 3-7 mm long and 0.5-1 mm wide. Adult kahikatea trees have scale-like leaves that are 1-2 mm long and 0.5-1 mm wide. The leaves are arranged spirally on the branches and are dark green in colour.

5. Are kahikatea fast growing?

Kahikatea are not considered to be fast-growing trees. They typically grow at 10-20 cm per year, and 2-4 cm per year in diameter. However, kahikatea trees can live for many years, and some specimens have been known to reach heights of over 60 metres.

6. What is the English name for kahikatea?

The most common English name for kahikatea is simply white pine. However, it also has a few other less common English names, including:

• Dacrycarpus (which is its scientific genus name)
• Katea
• Kōaka
• Kairoi

Using "kahikatea" itself is becoming increasingly common in English as well, especially in ecological and conservation contexts, as it recognizes the importance of the tree in Māori culture and the unique place it holds in the New Zealand environment.

7. How do you plant kahikatea?

Planting a kahikatea is an exciting way to contribute to New Zealand's natural heritage, but it's important to do it right to ensure the tree's success:

1. Choose the right time and place:

• Plant in autumn, winter, or spring so the tree can establish before the heat of summer arrives.
• Select a sunny spot with a well-drained soil. Kahikatea tolerate heavy soils but don't do well in constantly flooded conditions. Avoid areas with strong winds and heavy shade.

2. Prepare the site:

• Remove weeds and vegetation around the planting hole, ensuring a clear area of about 1 metre in diameter.
• Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball or container. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole.

3. Plant the kahikatea:

• Place the kahikatea in the hole, ensuring the root collar (where the stem meets the roots) sits at ground level.
• Backfill the hole with soil, firming it gently around the base of the tree.
• Create a shallow basin around the base to help water reach the roots.

4. Water and care:

• Water your kahikatea regularly, especially during dry spells, until it's established. Aim for the soil to be moist but not sodden.
• Mulch around the base with organic matter like bark chips or wood chips to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
• Protect your young kahikatea from browsing animals by using fencing or tree guards.
• Stake the tree to avoid it being blown over and offer additional support.

8. How can you tell the difference between Rimu and kahikatea?

Telling apart rimu and kahikatea can be tricky at first glance, but there are some key features you can look for:

Overall Shape:

• Rimu: Typically has a broad, rounded crown with drooping branches, giving it a weeping willow-like appearance.
• Kahikatea: Has a narrower, more upright crown with ascending branches, creating a more slender silhouette.

Foliage:

• Rimu: Leaves are small, scale-like, and dark green, arranged in two rows along the branches.
• Kahikatea: Leaves are also scale-like but often brighter green or blue-green, with a more spiral arrangement on the branches.

Branches:

• Rimu: Branches are long and drooping, often with a twisted or gnarled appearance.
• Kahikatea: Branches are shorter and ascend upwards, giving the tree a more upright look.

Seeds and Receptacles:

• Rimu: Seeds are borne on upturned branchlets, with the fleshy receptacle (the structure that supports the seed) pointing upwards.
• Kahikatea: Seeds are borne on shorter, upright branchlets, with the receptacle pointing downwards.

Bark:

• Rimu: Bark is thick, reddish-brown, and often has deep, vertical fissures.
• Kahikatea: Bark is thinner, lighter brown or grey, and smoother, with fewer fissures.

Habitat:

• Rimu: Prefers well-drained fertile sites, but can also tolerate poorer soil and wetter conditions.
• Kahikatea: Thrives in swampy areas and wet forests, with good soil drainage essential.