Sheffield's Seed Company Page

Looking for a beautiful and unique tree to add to your garden? Look no further than Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, also known as kahikatea in the Māori language. This coniferous tree is endemic to New Zealand and can grow up to 55 meters in height with a trunk exceeding 1 meter in diameter. It dominates lowland forests and wetlands throughout the North and South Islands and is often dispersed by birds who eat its fleshy scales.
Kahikatea has a long history of use in Māori culture, with the fleshy aril or koroi being an important food resource served at feasts and the wood favored for making bird spears. The soot obtained from burning the heartwood also supplied a pigment for traditional tattooing.
Interestingly, kahikatea was also used for boat building up until the 1970s because of its long straight lengths. When 12% dry it is slightly lighter in weight than Kauri and white in color.
While much of the kahikatea forests have been lost due to logging, there are still small stands of natural kahikatea in the Waikato region, such as Claudelands Bush.
Add a touch of New Zealand to your garden with Dacrycarpus dacrydioides.