Botanical name:

Libocedrus plumosa

Common name(s):

Kawaka, NZ cedar

About:

This species of Libocedrus is primarily found in the North Island and specific regions of Nelson, which means it is generally more suited to warmer areas with favourable climates. In a well-maintained garden, it holds an attractive and pleasing pyramidal shape and is known for its very slow growth, typically reaching about 2 m in height after a span of approximately 10 years. Kawaka features stunningly beautiful, rich green leaves that are not only compressed but also flattened, creating a delicate feathery effect that enhances its visual appeal. It makes an excellent choice as a specimen or container plant and thrives in similar growing conditions as pahautea, ensuring compatibility for gardeners looking to create harmonious landscapes.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to lowland mixed broadleaf/hardwood forest. Often found in association with kauri (A. australis). Often on ridge lines, spurs, or forming apparently even-aged cohorts in sites of former major disturbance, such as in or around stabilised slips, slumps, or areas of major wind throw damage. This species tends to colonise more fertile soils and soils overlying high fertility (base-rich) substrates.

Growing environment:

Drought, Shade, Wind & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North and South Islands. In the North present from Te Paki (Radar Bush) south to about the southern Kawhia Harbour (in the west) and near Gisborne (in the East), thence disjunct to north-west Nelson, where it grows locally around the Golden Bay area from about Puponga south to the Anatori River.

Height: 35m

Flowering: 

July - September with no flower/s

Fruiting:

July – June

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Riparian plantings, Forests, Wetland’s & Container friendly

How to grow:

Easily grown from fresh seed which germinates within 4-8 months of sowing. An attractive conifer that makes and excellent specimen tree. It does best in a free draining, moderately fertile and moist soil, though once established it can tolerate considerable drought. It is moderately cold hardy but dislikes severe frosts. This species does not like much competition from other broad-leaf trees and to do best it should be planted as solitary specimens or as a monospecific plantings (in a stand).

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though