Conical tree to 40 m or so tall in nature but much smaller in cultivation. Branchlets pendulous. Young leaves c. 7 mm long, 1 mm wide, linear, ridged; semi-adult leaves c. 4 mm long; adult leaves rigid, pressed to the stem, c. 2-3 mm long. As the tree ages the leaves become smaller and more scale-like. Seed borne on a red fleshy aril. Widespread in New Zealand; found naturally in lowland and montane forest, occasionally in subalpine scrub.

New Zealand.

SA: Stirling ('Beechwood', in Woodland Garden, 12 m tall). VIC: Dandenongs ('Kenloch' 16m, 1990; Tindale Gds); Emerald Lake (by car park, 16 m tall in 1990); Kallista (Old Williams Nsy site); Melbourne (Royal Bot. Gds Southern Lawn above Fern Gully); Mt Macedon ('Alton').

Source: Spencer, R. (1995). Podocarpaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 1, Ferns, conifers & their allies. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.