Dacrydium cupressinum aka Red Pine

Dacrydium cupressinum is an evergreen tree from New Zealand. Gardeners may know it as rimu or red pine. Other names include red spruce and New Zealand rimu pine. It belongs to the Podocarpaceae family. Its native forests span North, South and Stewart Islands. It grows in both lowland and mountain forests. These habitats reach about 2,625 feet [800 metres] above sea level.

Rimu grows slowly and can reach 98 feet [30 metres]. That figure does not describe its size in British gardens. One tree on the Scilly Isles reached 30 feet [9 metres] in 1970. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. Male and female reproductive structures grow on separate trees. Wind carries the pollen between them. A lone tree cannot fertilise itself. Grow both sexes if you want to produce seed.

This tree needs a sheltered site away from cold winds. It suits a woodland garden with moist, freely draining soil. Sandy and loamy soils both suit it. It accepts mildly acid, neutral and mildly alkaline conditions. It can grow in light shade beneath a woodland canopy. Shade may help it survive where the climate is drier. High rainfall and humid air matter to its success. It grows best with warm, humid summers and mild, humid winters. Even under these conditions, growth remains very slow. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 8–11. Yet it warns that British cultivation suits only the mildest areas. Trees may still struggle in those sites.

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It may cause constipation, so this use needs some caution. The bitter resin is also edible. People have used resin from young branches to make an alcoholic drink. Plants For A Future records no known hazards or medicinal uses. That report does not establish safety for pets. The bark supplies tannin, while the resin-rich heartwood can serve as a torch. The patterned wood has uses in buildings, furniture and railway sleepers.

Seed and cuttings offer ways to raise new trees. Sow seed in a compost that drains freely. Reports differ on how soon seed sprouts. Some give one to three months under warm conditions. Others warn of a much longer wait. Young plants need greenhouse shelter through at least their first winter. Plant them outside after the risk of late frost.