Trees Suitable for Northland

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 94, Issue 2, 15 February 1957, Page 131

Trees Suitable for Northland

Trees on the Farm

THERE are often requests for names of tree species suitable for certain localities, and to meet this need lists are being compiled by district officers of the New Zealand Forest Service. These district lists will be published from time to time. In presenting a list of trees suitable for Northland, W. H. Jolliffe, Extension Forestry Officer, New Zealand Forest Service, draws attention to the wide range of site conditions present in Northland and consequently the need for care in choosing from among those recommended species which would be most suitable for the particular site.

SPECIES of timber-producing trees recommended for growing in Northland are as follows; their suitability is limited only by certain site conditions: — Agathis australis (kauri) is fairly tolerant as to site provided there is some shade in the early stages, for which manuka is very useful. The kauri transplants well if the roots are balled or in tubes and fairly well even if planted open rooted. Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar) tolerates a wide variety of soils. It does best with early shelter and so is useful for under-planting cut-over bush or open-growth exotics. Cupressus lusitanica var. benthami (Bentham’s cypress) is more disease resistant than macrocarpa and is useful for damper sites provided they are not subject to salt winds. It is a promising species in Northland. Cupressus macrocarpa will tolerate quite heavy clay soils, but should not be planted on wet sites. It is one of the best species for planting where salt winds are common.

Eucalyptus species: Some of the vast group of eucalypts are well suited to Northland soils. Probably the best all-round species are E. botryoides and E. saligna; the former will grow on really hard pan soils and both tolerate salt winds well. E. siderophloia is a durable ironbark suited to clay country, and E. pilularis does well on all but the poorest soils. The latter is, however, difficult to transplant. Pinus radiata is suitable in Northland only for the better soils and should never be planted on gumland soils or on other poor types. It tolerates salt winds fairly well. P. caribaea (slash pine) tolerates practically all soils except those with a hard pan. It will stand fairly moist conditions, but not exposure to salt winds. P. taeda (loblolly pine) is similar to P. caribaea but is somewhat less tolerant. P. pinaster (maritime pine) is very hardy in Northland, but some strains of it do not develop into trees of very good form. It is fairly tolerant of salt winds.

Robinia pseudacacia (robinia or false acacia) is promising on the better soils and will stand quite heavy clay. It produces durable timber fairly quickly. Vitex lucens (puriri) is a handsome native tree producing a durable timber. It is easily established and quick growing provided the soil is good. There are some species which are not recommended as timber trees but which are useful for other purposes and for growing under certain conditions. These include: Acacia melanoxylon, mixed with eucalypts; Eucalyptus ficifolia, which will stand strong winds; Ficus macrophylla (Moreton Bay fig), which will endure salt winds, Metrosideros excelsa (pohutukawa), a coastal tree, and Myoporum laetum (ngaio), a coastal tree. Species which are in more or less common use in other parts of New Zealand and may succeed as garden specimens in Northland, but which are not recommended for forest use there, are: Betula alba (European silver birch), Eucalyptus amygdalina, E. ovata,

Fagus sylvatica (English beech), Larix decidua (larch) , Picea excelsa (European spruce), Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce) , Pinus murrayana, P. ponderosa, P. strobus, Pseudotsuga taxifolia (Douglas fir or Oregon pine) , Sequoia sempervirens (redwood) , Thuya plicata (western red cedar), and Tsuga spp. (hemlocks). Hedge Plants There are quite a number of hedge species which a local nurseryman could recommend for certain conditions, but those known to have been widely successful on poor soils are: Acacia verticillata (prickly acacia), which tends to open out unless kept trimmed; Eleagnus parviflora, which can be used also in conjunction with tall shelter trees; Hakea saligna, which tolerates poorly drained clay soils; Pittosporum crassifolium (karo), which can be used on dry sites in conjunction with tall trees. All of these will grow quickly and are resistant to salt winds.