Mountain Neinei

Botanical name: Dracophyllum traversii
Synonyms: Dracophyllum pyramidale
Common name(s): Mountain Neinei, Grass Tree, Pineapple Tree

About:
Mountain Neinei is a striking, long-lived shrub or small tree endemic to New Zealand. It is one of the largest and most distinctive members of the genus, developing stout branches arranged in an open, candelabra-like crown. Dense rosettes of broad, strongly curved leaves form at the branch tips, while large pyramidal flower clusters bearing hundreds or thousands of small red flowers emerge from the centre of the foliage. In exposed subalpine sites it may remain a low shrub, but in sheltered forest it can develop into a substantial tree.

Natural habitat:
Occurs from lowland forest to subalpine shrubland in a wide range of cool, moist habitats. It grows on mountain slopes, ridgelines, saddles, cliffs, bluffs and within steep-sided gorges. It may occur in forest, forest margins, cloud forest, shrubland and open subalpine vegetation.

Plants are found from near sea level to approximately 1,700 m elevation, although they are most characteristic of montane and subalpine environments.

Growing environment:
Prefers cool, humid conditions in full sun or partial shade. It grows best in acidic, humus-rich, consistently moist but free-draining soil. Suitable substrates include clay loam and organic soils developed over sandstone, limestone, greywacke or shale.

Established plants tolerate frost, snow, strong winds and exposed mountain conditions. They are sensitive to prolonged drought, heat, waterlogging, alkaline soil and root disturbance.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand and found in both the North and South Islands.

In the North Island it occurs discontinuously from Waima Forest south to the central volcanic region and near Taumarunui, with populations extending east towards East Cape. In the South Island it is largely western, ranging from north-west Nelson south through the western ranges to Central Otago and eastern Fiordland.

Height:
20 cm–13 m

Width:
Approximately 1–6 m, depending on habitat and exposure

Flowering:
October–February

Fruiting:
December–May

Uses:
• Architectural specimen tree
• Montane and subalpine restoration
• Cool-climate native gardens
• Forest-margin planting
• Botanical and conservation collections
• Habitat for native wildlife

Appearance:
Growth habit:
A robust shrub or small tree with stout branches forming an open, candelabra-shaped crown. Plants growing in sheltered forest may become tall and tree-like, while those exposed to alpine wind and snow often remain compact and shrubby.

The foliage is concentrated at the ends of the branches in large bromeliad-like rosettes. Fallen leaves commonly accumulate in thick layers beneath mature plants.

Trunk/Bark:
Older trunks and branches have light reddish-brown to brown bark that peels away in conspicuous large flakes. Young stems are reddish-brown and comparatively smooth.

Leaves:
Leaves are broad, leathery and strongly curved, measuring approximately 9–86 cm long and 17–50 mm wide. They are linear-triangular to lance-shaped, prominently striated and crowded densely at the branch tips.

The margins are firm and very finely toothed. Young leaves may carry a pale grey or bluish waxy bloom, particularly in plants near the tree line. In cold or highly exposed conditions the foliage may develop reddish-purple winter colouring.

Flowers:
The enormous branched inflorescences are among the most impressive features of the species. Each pyramidal panicle is approximately 18–40 cm long and may carry 500–3,000 or more flowers.

The central axis is stout, green to reddish and densely clothed in short hairs. Large bracts are light green, whitish at the base and pink-tipped or entirely pink. The flowers are usually red, although the broad bell-shaped corolla tube may occasionally be white. The reflexed lobes expose pink anthers that become pale yellow as they age.

Fruit:
The fruit is a small, dry, depressed-globose capsule approximately 2.8–3 mm across. It ripens from reddish to purplish-brown and is not enclosed by the persistent calyx.

Seeds:
Seeds are minute, yellowish-brown, ovoid and approximately 1 mm long. They are produced in very large numbers and dispersed by wind.

Ecology:
Mountain Neinei is a major structural species in cool montane forests and subalpine shrublands. Its stout branches and large foliage rosettes provide shelter and habitat for insects, epiphytes and small birds. Bellbirds have been observed visiting the flowers, while a range of native insects also use the abundant nectar and pollen.

Kea may feed on young shoots and leaves during winter. Native scale insects can shelter beneath old bark and within leaf scars, while insect larvae occasionally consume the young foliage.

The dense layer of fallen leaves beneath mature trees may reach several centimetres in depth. This litter suppresses competing vegetation, retains moisture and creates a distinctive environment beneath the crown.

Mountain Neinei is exceptionally long-lived. Individual plants have been estimated to survive for approximately 500–600 years, with the juvenile phase potentially lasting a century or more.

Associated habitats:
Silver beech forest, kāmahi forest, montane podocarp forest, cloud forest, subalpine shrubland, cliff vegetation, ridgelines and mountain slopes.

Associated species may include silver beech, kāmahi, yellow silver pine, mountain toatoa, pāhautea, kawaka, rewarewa, bush flax, mountain inaka, leatherwood, Olearia, Coprosma and Gahnia species.

How to grow:
Plant in a cool, sheltered or semi-shaded position with acidic, humus-rich soil. The soil should remain consistently moist but must drain freely. A mixture containing leaf mould, fine bark, pumice and coarse sand can help reproduce its natural forest-floor conditions.

Avoid disturbing the root ball during planting. Keep young plants shaded from intense afternoon sun and protected from drying winds until established. Water regularly during dry periods, but never allow the roots to remain waterlogged.

Growth is extremely slow. Plants may spend many years in a juvenile, single-stemmed stage before developing the characteristic branching crown.

Propagation:
Propagation is best attempted from fresh seed. Surface-sow the seed onto a moist, acidic, finely textured medium, as light is required for germination. Do not bury it deeply.

A period of cool, moist storage may improve germination. Seedlings should be maintained in bright filtered light with high humidity, good airflow and even moisture. Germination may be irregular, and young plants are highly sensitive to root disturbance.

Mountain Neinei should only be purchased from reputable specialist nurseries. Wild plants must never be removed, as transplanted specimens usually decline and die after a short period.

Cultural use:
No specific traditional uses are widely documented, although the species is an important and highly recognisable component of New Zealand’s montane landscapes.

The name Dracophyllum means “dragon leaf”, referring to the plant’s dramatic, prehistoric-looking foliage. The specific name traversii commemorates William Thomas Locke Travers, a nineteenth-century naturalist who studied the flora of Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury.

Garden value:
An exceptional specimen for cool-climate native gardens and specialist botanical collections. Its sculptural candelabra-like crown, broad arching foliage, flaky reddish bark and enormous red flower panicles provide outstanding year-round interest.

Because of its extremely slow growth, specialised soil requirements and sensitivity to disturbance, Mountain Neinei is best suited to patient and experienced growers able to provide cool, moist, acidic conditions.