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 reaches 40m, but in cultivation it is slow and strictly upright, at around 12m tall and 5m wide after ten to fifteen years. The foliage is unusual for a conifer: broad, glossy, strap shaped leaves rather than needles, on a straight pale grey trunk.

Why you'll love it

• An Australian native with real presence. It brings a formality an exotic pine or cypress cannot.
• Smaller and slower than the forest figures suggest. Garden grown it is a considered choice for a large block, not a mistake waiting to happen.
• Almost no maintenance. It drops no carpet of prickly litter, is humidity, wind and drought tolerant once established, and holds a single straight leader without shaping or annual pruning.

Where it works best

Feature planting on a large block. One kauri as a lawn specimen gives you a hundred year tree with a beautiful trunk from year five and a crown that shades year round.

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

Windbreaks. The tall, narrow habit and wind tolerance make it a good backbone tree 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. 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 its home.

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

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

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

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in seven sizes: 200mm pots as a pack of six, then 300mm, 400mm, and 25L, 45L, 100L and 200L. The 200mm packs and 300mm pots are young and the value choice for an avenue or shelter belt. The 400mm and 25L to 200L sizes arrive with a formed trunk and useful height, the way to go for a single feature. Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. 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 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, less in a cool or dry 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.

Can I grow it in a pot?

For its first few years, yes. A 200mm or 300mm plant sits happily in a large container, and at 500mm to 800mm a year it is in no hurry to outgrow one. It is still a 12m tree in the end, so plan on planting it out into open ground.