Rimu – Dacrydium cupressinum

The Rimu is a large evergreen coniferous tree endemic to the forests of New Zealand; it is a member of the southern conifer group, the podocarps.

The Rimu tree was formerly named “Red Pine”

The Rimu tree grows throughout New Zealand although the largest concentration is found on the west coast.

The Rimu tree is a slow-growing tree up to 50metres tall although most surviving trees are 20 to 35 metres tall. The Rimu trees lifespan is approximately 800 to 900 years.  The Rimu tree has a straight trunk which generally grows 1.5metres in diameter.

The leaves are spirally arranged awl shape up to 7 millimetres long.  Seeds are dispersed by native birds which eat the fleshy scale and pass the seed through there stools.  The Rimu tree is an important food source particularly the Kakapo, whose breeding cycle has been linked to the cone production cycle of the tree.

The Rimu trees as well as Kauri and Totara trees were a main source of wood in New Zealand.  However most of New Zealand original stands of Rimu have been destroyed and recent changes to government polices means there is no more felling in public forests, though the polices do allow limited felling on private land.

The Rimu tree has now been replaced by the Pinus Radiate as the main source of wood; however Rimu is still popular for high quality wooden furniture.  There has also been limited recovery of stump and root wood from trees felled many years before, these stumps and roots are used for making bowls and other wood turned objects.

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