A graceful evergreen broadleaved tree with tiers of tiny glossy leaves and attractive bark. Introduced c.1850 but uncommon.

Native to New Zealand, both North and South Islands.

Monoecious. Wind-pollinated. Wind-dispersed.

Medium (28-30m), broad and bushy. Bark silver-grey, smooth with pale horizontal lenticel bands (like Wild Cherry), developing orange-hued vertical fissures. Twigs slender, initially downy; buds tiny, red. Foliage evergreen, in tiers. Leaves tiny (8-15mm), glossy deep green, glabrous, spherical, double-toothed, with hairy pits (domatia) beneath the base. Male flowers solitary; female cupules (6-8mm) with winged nutlets.

Where introduced, better suited to warm maritime regions. Grows best in deep well-drained soils, and with shelter.

No notable associations where introduced.

Generally healthy.

A versatile timber where native. Elsewhere, an attractive ornamental tree.