Libocedrus plumosa aka Kawaka

Libocedrus plumosa is a tree from New Zealand. It is evergreen, which means it keeps its leaves year-round. Its common names include kawaka and New Zealand arbor-vitae. It belongs to the cypress family, Cupressaceae. Its native range spans the North Island and northern South Island. Records place it in the South Island’s Nelson district. It grows in lowland forests. Kew classes its climate as subtropical. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This tree grows slowly. Plants For A Future gives its height as 30 feet [9 metres]. A tree at Wakehurst Place reached 16 feet [5 metres] in 1971. The sources give no mature spread or full leaf description. They give no details of bark or branch shape. Its year-round leaves suit a woodland garden with enough space. The sources place it in gardens with dappled shade.

Each tree bears both male and female parts for reproduction. Wind carries pollen between them. The sources give no month for flowering or cone description. Plants For A Future says seeds ripen from September to October. It suggests sowing in a cold greenhouse in late winter. It notes that this advice does not draw on species-specific facts. Its method keeps young plants under glass through their first winter. Plant them out after the last expected frosts. This falls in late spring or early summer.

Choose a sheltered site with deep soil rich in humus. The tree needs moist soil and high air humidity. It accepts sand, loam and clay soils. It also grows in mildly acid or mildly alkaline soil. Neutral soil suits it too. Grow it in sun or part shade. Shield it from cold, drying winds from the east. It has limited hardiness in Britain. Yet it grows outdoors in Cornwall and southern Ireland. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 7–10. The source gives these broad zones but also warns about cold exposure.

The wood has uses beyond the garden. It is easy to work, and people value its looks. Builders have used it to build and to make shingles. Reports also suggest that the wood deters insects. Plants For A Future lists no known food or medicinal uses. It lists no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases. Plants For A Future does not flag weed potential.