Family: Podocarpaceae

Endemic to the southern hemisphere, these conifers are mostly found in New Zealand, one is native to Australia's Tasmania and a few to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. The young leaves are soft and awl-shaped, while the mature leaves are scale-like and densely crowded. In the tall species, the outer branch-lets droop, producing a graceful silhouette. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees, the males appearing as short spikes in the arils of the upper leaves and the females near the branchlet tips. Each seed is set in a cup-shaped, fleshy, mostly scarlet, base.

Species

D. cupressinum, New Zealand rimu, zone 9, has attractive, dark bronze-green foliage. It is slow growing, but can reach heights of 60 m (200 ft) in the wild, though seldom more than 10 m (33 ft) in cultivation. As a young tree it is very beautiful as its weep­ing habit is more pronounced. The timber is used in building and cabinet-making.

D. franklinii, Huon pine, the Tasmanian species, zone 8, is a very striking tree, though not as tall as the rimu, with pendulous branches and dark green, scale-like leaves. Now quite scarce, the timber from the Huon pine is extremely beautiful and valuable, being straight-grained, soft, smooth and uncom­monly durable. In the past it was used exten­sively for boat building and joinery, many pieces of Tasmanian antique furniture being made from this superb timber. This species is now reclassified as Lagarostrobus franklinii.

Cultivation

These trees need a cool temperate climate, rich, deep soil and adequate moisture. The Huon pine tolerates some frost and light snow. Propagate from seed or from cuttings taken in autumn. If growing from self-sown seedlings, make sure they are no more than 15 cm (6 in) tall when transplanting as they can be difficult to re-establish.

Climate

Suited to cool to warm temperate climates.