Kauri.

At a glance

Care level

Difficult

Plant type

Conifer

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

50 meters

Growth rate

Slow

Hardiness

USDA 9 to 11

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Care

This tree requires significant space and specific environmental conditions to thrive long term. Watch for yellowing needles which often signal poor drainage or incorrect soil acidity. It is best suited for outdoor planting in temperate climates rather than indoor containers.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.

Feeding

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Only remove dead or damaged branches to maintain the natural form.

Repotting

Repot only when the tree has clearly outgrown its container, as they dislike root disturbance.

Soil

Deep, well drained, acidic soil

Soil pH

4.5 to 6.0

Temperature

-5 to 35°C

Humidity

60 to 90%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial, can live for over 2,000 years.

Deer and rabbits

High

Safety

People

There is no evidence that this tree is toxic to humans.

Children

The tree is massive and poses no specific ingestion risk, but children should be kept away from falling cones.

Contact allergens

The resin can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

Pollen may cause mild respiratory discomfort for those with severe tree pollen allergies.

Edibility

The seeds are not typically consumed by humans and are not considered a food source.

How to identify it

• Massive straight grey trunk
• Leathery oval shaped leaves
• Small spherical woody cones
• Exfoliating bark in large flakes

Height

30 to 50m

Spread

10 to 20m

Leaves

dark green, evergreen

Flowers

yellow, green, 1 to 2cm

Fruit

brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• Kauri DiebackCommon
• PhytophthoraUncommon
• Root RotUncommon
• Scale InsectsUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

seed, cuttings

When to plant

Spring, Autumn

Overwintering

Protect young trees from heavy frost with burlap or frost cloth. Ensure the soil remains well drained to prevent root issues during wet winters.

In containers

Not suitable for long term container growth due to its massive ultimate size.

Plant these trees in groups to mimic their natural forest structure and improve soil moisture retention.

Grows well with

• Silver Fern · It thrives in the dappled shade provided by the Kauri canopy.
• Nikau Palm · These plants share similar moisture and shade requirements in a forest setting.

Similar species

• Queensland Kauri · It is a close relative with similar growth habits and appearance.

Science

Family

Araucariaceae

Genus

Agathis

Order

Pinales

Class

Pinopsida

Native range

Northern New Zealand

Conservation

The Kauri is vulnerable due to habitat loss and the spread of Kauri dieback disease.

It dominates the canopy in its native rainforests by creating a unique microclimate for understory plants.

Value to wildlife

provides habitat for epiphytes, shelter for native birds

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Uses

timber, ornamental, ecological restoration

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow a Kauri in a pot?

Only for a few years while it is a juvenile, as it eventually requires significant space.

How fast do they grow?

They are quite slow growing, especially in their early years.

Where the name comes from

Agathis comes from the Greek word for a ball of thread, referring to the shape of the cones, while australis means southern.

Good to know

• Kauri trees were once used extensively for shipbuilding.
• They can grow to be over 50 meters tall.
• The bark sheds in large flakes to discourage climbing plants.
• Kauri forests are among the oldest in the world.

Also in

• Deer-resistant plants