Giant New Zealand conifer reaching 50 m with a massive cylindrical bole 5+ m in diameter. The cultural and timber icon of northern New Zealand — pale strong straight-grained timber historically used for ships’ masts and spars, now restricted by conservation and disease.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 9–11 | −6.7 °C to 10 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H3 | −5 °C to 1 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 3–6 | −5 °C to 15 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Heartwood — pale straight-grained, exceptionally strong, the historic mast and spar timber of the Royal Navy and a key New Zealand colonial export
- WARNING: Kauri dieback (Phytophthora agathidicida) is currently devastating native populations across northern New Zealand — strict track and footwear cleaning protocols are now law in kauri forest, do not move soil between sites
- Modern timber is restricted by conservation regulations to salvage, recycled and ancient swamp-recovered logs — purchase only with documented provenance
- Slow growing but very long lived (1,000+ years) — single famous trees (Tāne Mahuta, Te Matua Ngahere) are cultural taonga
- Not reliably hardy outdoors in Canada — Canadian zone values shown represent the system maximum and do not imply garden cultivation north of the warmest coastal pockets.
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Related plants
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