Agathis macrophylla aka Pacific Kauri

Agathis macrophylla is an evergreen tree in the Araucariaceae family. Its names include dakua, Pacific kauri, and Fijian kauri. It comes from Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Santa Cruz Islands. It grows in wet tropical forests and moist subtropical forests. In these forests, its crown can rise above nearby trees. Logging and forest loss have reduced its wild numbers. Useful Tropical Plants reports an Endangered assessment from 2013.

This large tree needs room for its broad crown. The listed cultivated size is 98 feet [30 metres] tall. Its listed spread reaches 26 feet [8 metres]. Broader accounts give heights up to 131 feet [40 metres]. The trunk can reach about 10 feet [3 metres] across. Large branches grow upward or extend out from the trunk. The tree keeps its leaves through the year. It bears female cones, and wind carries its pollen.

Warmth and steady moisture suit this tree best. Its home climate has rain spread throughout the year. Reported annual rainfall ranges from 1,900 to 6,000 millimetres. Mean annual temperatures range from 25 to 28°C. It needs protection from frost. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 10–12. Full sun or light shade suits established trees. Deep shade slows growth, though the tree can survive there. Young trees need shade and shelter while they establish.

Choose moist soil that lets excess water drain away. The tree prefers clay loam or clay with surface humus. It also grows in sand and soils low in nutrients. Reported soil tolerance spans strongly acid to strongly alkaline conditions. It can cope with salt in soil and coastal exposure. Its roots help hold soil on slopes and ridges. Its strength in wind also gives it value in shelterbelts. Large public grounds and roadsides offer space for ornamental planting.

People grow and harvest this tree for timber and resin. Its long life also suits planting as a local landmark. It can form an upper layer above shade-tolerant crops. Fresh, sound seeds need no treatment before sowing. In warm conditions, they can start sprouting within a week. Cuttings from leading shoots offer another way to raise plants. Plants For A Future lists no known food or medicinal uses. The sources report no known hazards, but this does not establish safety for people or pets.