Excellent dense fast-growing shelter and revegetation tree, suitable for a wide variety of positions, including exposed coastal sites. Trims well. Avoided by rabbits, however poisonous to stock. Attractive to bees and wood pigeons. Evergreen. Avoid heavy frosts.

East Cape to Wairarapa and the Whanganui and Patea Rivers. Naturalised in the Nth and Sth Islands. Small evergreen tree, with twigs, flowers and capsules covered in white hairs. Thick leathery leaves white underneath suited to coastal conditions.

The Mount Cook Totara is a splendid form of the much loved native. With a wonderful tight and conical habit, its great for either formal plantings or hedging.

Native to Lord Howe Island, part of the largely submerged Zealandia, on which NZ sits. Small stocky evergreen tree with a lignotuber at ground level. Pinnate leaves 5-10cm long larger than S. tetraptera. Larger yellow flowers July to Sept. 7-12cm pods contain smooth orange-brown seeds. Wood is hard and durable. vergreen, with upright vase shaped slightly arching branches. Larger leaves and much larger flowers. Hardy, slower than most kowhai. Suitable for a small garden. Known by the name 'Gnome'.