Queensland Kauri Pine

Queensland Kauri Pine (Agathis robusta) is one of the great Australian rainforest conifers, and in a garden it behaves far more politely than its reputation suggests. In wild rainforest it can reach 40m or more, but in cultivation it is slow and strictly upright, sitting at around 12m tall and 5m wide after ten to fifteen years. The foliage is unusual for a conifer: broad, leathery, glossy strap shaped leaves rather than needles, carried on a straight pale grey trunk.

Why you'll love it

• An Australian native with real presence. It brings a formality that an exotic pine or cypress cannot.
• Smaller and slower than the forest figures suggest. Garden grown it stays around 12m over a decade and a half, so it is a considered choice for a large block rather than a mistake waiting to happen.
• Broad glossy leaves, and almost no maintenance. The foliage catches light and drops no carpet of prickly litter. It is humidity, wind and drought tolerant once established, and grows a single straight leader on its own: no shaping, no annual pruning.

Where it works best

Feature planting on a large block. One kauri as a lawn specimen or a landmark at the front of a rural property gives you a tree with a hundred year outlook and a beautiful trunk from year five, and a dense crown that shades year round.

Driveways and avenues. Allow around 6m between trees, based on a mature garden width of about 5m, so each keeps a full crown rather than stripping its lower branches.

Windbreaks. The upright, tall and narrow habit and genuine wind tolerance make it a good backbone tree for a shelter planting on an exposed rural boundary.

Growing Queensland Kauri Pine in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for a mature tree, though young plants appreciate part shade for a year or two, as they do in the forest. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens: Queensland, coastal and northern New South Wales, and warmer parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It takes light frost only, so cold inland districts and the tablelands are not the right home for it.

Soil. Deep, free draining soil enriched with compost gives the best growth, and it will not thrive in a permanently wet, compacted spot. Mulch 75mm deep out to the drip line and keep it off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then reduce. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring is plenty, and low phosphorus formulations suit it best.

Pruning. Leave the leader alone. Remove lower branches only if you need clearance underneath, and do it gradually over several years rather than in one lift.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in seven sizes: 200mm pots sold as a pack of six, then 300mm, 400mm, and 25L, 45L, 100L and 200L. The 200mm packs and 300mm pots are young, single stemmed and the value choice for an avenue or a shelter belt, and worth starting early because the tree is slow. The 400mm and 25L to 200L sizes arrive with a formed trunk and useful height, which is the way to go for a single feature. Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse more Australian native plants
• See the full range of trees
• Compare other conifers for feature planting
• Preparing the ground before planting a tree

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Slowly, and honestly that is part of the appeal. Those 40m figures come from old growth rainforest, with centuries behind them. In a garden, figure on roughly 500mm to 800mm of height a year in warm conditions, less in a cooler or drier one.

How far from the house should I plant it?

At least 8m. The crown reaches about 5m across, the root system spreads further, and it is a tree you want standing clear of a roofline.