Agathis australis

Common Name:
Kauri Pine

Description:
Agathis australis, commonly known as the Kauri Pine, is an ancient and majestic conifer native to New Zealand, renowned for its towering form and smooth, straight trunk. In its natural habitat, it is among the largest and longest-living trees on Earth. While it reaches massive proportions in the wild, in Melbourne gardens it grows at a slower pace and remains a large but manageable specimen over many decades. It features dense, symmetrical foliage with leathery, deep green leaves that give it a distinctly lush and prehistoric appearance. Kauri Pine prefers deep, well-draining soil rich in organic matter, and it thrives in full sun to part shade. It is best planted in a spacious area away from structures due to its eventual size and surface root system. While it is not a fast grower, its elegant form and low-maintenance nature make it an excellent long-term investment for large gardens or public landscapes. Kauri Pines are evergreen and do not produce prominent flowers, but rather small cones that are part of their reproductive cycle.

Form:

• Tree - Large

Mature Size:

• Height: Up to 30–40 metres in cultivation (much taller in native range)

• Width: 10–15 metres

Aspect:

• Full Sun

• Part Shade

Flowering:

• Does not flower

Flower Colour:

• N/A

Key Attributes:

• Disease Resistant

• Suitable for Large Landscapes

• Long-lived

• Evergreen

• Valuable Timber (non-harvest in urban gardens)

Toxicity:
Not known to be toxic to humans or animals.

Companion Plants:

• Doryanthes excelsa (Gymea Lily)

• Dicksonia antarctica (Soft Tree Fern)

• Blechnum gibbum (Miniature Tree Fern)

• Lomandra longifolia

• Tristaniopsis laurina