List of trees native to New Zealand facts for kids
New Zealand is a special place because it has been separated from other landmasses for a very long time. This means that most of its plants are found nowhere else in the world! New Zealand has many different kinds of native trees, from giant kauri trees in the north to tough alpine trees in the mountains. You can find forests ranging from warm, wet subtropical areas to cool, misty rainforests and even coastal forests.
When British settlers first arrived, they often gave New Zealand trees names that sounded like European trees, even if they weren't related. Now, people usually use the original Māori names for these trees. The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network has a list of all 574 native trees and shrubs. This list also tells us which trees are found only in New Zealand and which ones are in danger of disappearing.
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Amazing New Zealand Trees
New Zealand's trees are grouped into different types, just like animals. Let's explore some of the main groups you can find.
Tree Ferns: Ancient Giants
Tree ferns are a very old type of plant, like living fossils! They have tall, woody trunks and large, leafy fronds at the top, making them look a bit like palm trees. They are a common sight in New Zealand's forests.
- Gully tree fern (Alsophila cunninghamii)
- Mamaku (Sphaeropteris medullaris): This is one of the tallest tree ferns.
- Silver fern or ponga (Alsophila tricolor): This fern is famous for its silver-white underside. It's a national symbol of New Zealand!
- Soft tree fern (Alsophila smithii)
Conifers: Cone-Bearing Trees
Conifers are trees that produce cones instead of flowers. Many of New Zealand's native conifers are very old and can grow to be huge.
Kauri Trees: Northern Giants
- Kauri (Agathis australis): These are some of the largest and oldest trees in the world! They can live for over 1,000 years and have massive trunks. Kauri forests are mostly found in the northern North Island.
Podocarps: Tall Forest Trees
The Podocarp family includes many of New Zealand's most important forest trees. They are known for their tall, straight trunks and strong wood.
- Kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides): This is New Zealand's tallest native tree, often found in swampy areas. It can grow over 60 meters (200 feet) high!
- Mataī (Prumnopitys taxifolia): A sturdy tree with dark bark that peels off in flakes.
- Miro (Prumnopitys ferruginea): This tree produces small, red, berry-like fruits that birds love to eat.
- Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum): A very common and important timber tree, known for its drooping branches.
- Tōtara (Podocarpus totara): This tree has very strong, durable wood that was important for Māori for building waka (canoes) and carvings.
Flowering Plants: Diverse and Colourful
Most of New Zealand's native trees are flowering plants, even if their flowers are not always big and showy. This group includes a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and leaf types.
Cabbage Trees: Iconic Spikes
- Cabbage tree (Cordyline australis): Also known as tī kōuka, this iconic tree has a tall, straight trunk and a crown of long, sword-like leaves. It's very hardy and can be found almost everywhere in New Zealand.
Kōwhai: Golden Blooms
- Kōwhai (Sophora species): These trees are famous for their bright yellow, pea-shaped flowers that bloom in spring. They are a favorite food source for native birds like the tūī and bellbird. There are several different types of kōwhai.
Rātā and Pōhutukawa: Red Flowers
- Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa): Often called New Zealand's "Christmas tree" because its bright red flowers bloom around Christmas time. It grows mainly along the coast.
- Northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta): This tree often starts its life as an epiphyte (a plant that grows on another plant) high up in the canopy, sending roots down to the ground. It has beautiful red flowers.
- Southern rātā (Metrosideros umbellata): Found in cooler, wetter parts of the South Island and Stewart Island, also with bright red flowers.
Other Interesting Flowering Trees
- Kauri (Agathis australis): While mentioned under conifers, it's worth noting its unique place.
- Kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum): A small tree with heart-shaped leaves. It's important in Māori traditional medicine.
- Lemonwood (Pittosporum eugenioides): This tree has shiny, wavy leaves that smell like lemon when crushed.
- Nīkau (Rhopalostylis sapida): New Zealand's only native palm tree! It has a smooth, green trunk and a crown of large, feathery leaves.
- Pigeonwood (Hedycarya arborea): A common forest tree, named because pigeons love to eat its fruit.
- Puriri (Vitex lucens): A large, strong tree with beautiful pink flowers that bloom almost all year round.
- Rewarewa (Knightia excelsa): Also known as the New Zealand honeysuckle, it has unique, reddish-brown flowers that look like bottle brushes.
- Titoki (Alectryon excelsus): This tree has shiny leaves and produces black seeds with a bright red casing.
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