| General Description | Pyramidal evergreen tree with straight spreading branches. Notable for needles turning golden brown in autumn while remaining on the tree. Able to produce aerial roots because of its native growing environment in floodplains. |
| ID Characteristic | Recognizable from its buttressed crown that can be more than a metre thicker than the trunk itself. Single needles have scale leaves at the base of branchlets and turn a light shade of brown in autumn with the ends bearing small cones. |
| Shape | Upright and pyramidal. |
| Landscape | Used as a wind-break as well as for erosion control. |
| Propagation | Although able to be propagated by cuttings and grafting using new growth, seed is the most common form of propagation. Cones produced by the tree are harvested and planted in moist, rich soil to ensure germination. |
| Cultivation | Roots must never be allowed to dry out completely. Tree thrives in rich soil with neutral pH and loves having wet feet. Full sun is a must, it does not grow well in shaded areas. Somewhat of a 'hog' in that the roots take up a large amount of the surrounding land. |
| Pests | Usually pest and disease resistant. |
| Notable Specimens | Christchruch Botanic Gardens, Christchurch, New Zealand. |
| Habitat | Always found near water and full sun, in wetlands and flooded areas. Due to over-cutting, now a rare or possibly extinct tree in the wild. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Vertical cracking appears throughout the plant, older bark looks exfoliating due to its peeling effect. Beige is the primary bark colour, however, the peeling bark reveals a reddish underside making the bark appear tinged with red. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Ovulate, reaching 1.5 cm in length. Sticky and pollen covered when young, browning with maturity. |
| Leaf Description | Young needles are scale like and overlapping, becoming single needles up to 5 cm when mature. Green in spring and summer, the needles slowly become golden-brown as autumn approaches. |
| Flower Description | Being a coniferous tree, this plant does not produce showy flowers. Green when young and turn brown as they mature. |
| Fruit Description | Cones are obovate, 2-3 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. Bracts are triangular and flattened, 3-8 mm long. Seeds are small and brown with the basal wing reaching 8 mm. |
| Colour Description | Overall it has a lot of colour for a pine tree. Bark has beige colouring streaked with the red from the cambium. Young shoots are bright green, darkening with age. Needles green through spring and summer turning into light brown late into summer and autumn. |
| Texture Description | Tree is rough and coarse looking in the landscape. Needles look sharp but give the tree a softer look and feel. |