The New Zealand conifer that once fueled a nation and saved explorers from scurvy.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Rimu is a towering, ancient conifer endemic to New Zealand that shaped both indigenous culture and colonial history. Beyond its ecological role as a vital food source for the endangered kākāpō, this resilient tree provided the timber for a nation's growth and the ingredients for the first native beer.

Rimu, or Dacrydium cupressinum, is a long-lived conifer that can reach 60 metres in height and survive for up to 1,200 years. As a dioecious species, individual trees are strictly male or female. Its distinct appearance, characterized by drooping, slender foliage and a trunk that sheds thick, wavy bark, makes it a landmark of New Zealand's lowland and montane forests. While it is the only member of its genus native to the country, it shares a common ancestor with other Podocarpaceae species, maintaining a unique evolutionary lineage that likely originated in Australasia during the Late Cretaceous.

The tree is deeply woven into Māori culture, which utilized its timber for canoes and weapons, its gum as a styptic for wounds, and its bark to treat burns. European settlers later recognized its industrial value; between 1918 and 1930, rimu accounted for 58 percent of New Zealand's total timber production. Its durability and texture made it a favorite for flooring and furniture. Historically, the tree also served a medical purpose for explorers: in 1773, James Cook brewed a 'spruce beer' from its branch tips to combat scurvy, a practice later documented by missionary Richard Taylor.

Ecologically, the rimu is a cornerstone species. It exhibits mast seeding—a synchronized, periodic production of seeds—which is essential for the survival of the critically endangered kākāpō parrot, which only mates during heavy fruiting years. The tree also hosts a high diversity of fungal endophytes and epiphytes, such as Metrosideros robusta, which can eventually replace the host tree. While historical deforestation caused a 70 percent decline in its range, the species is currently classified as 'Least Concern' by the IUCN, with populations remaining stable under modern legal protections.

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