Lancewood - Pseudopanax crassifolius

The horoeka or lancewood, Pseudopanax crassifolius, is a unique, culturally significant native tree found all over New Zealand. It has a different look when young and as an adult tree. Lancewood provides a food source for birds with its nectar and fruits. It can be grown in a pot like a bonsai tree or mass-planted in the ground.  Lancewood can tolerate a range of conditions, including full sun to part shade and relatively dry soils. 

It is a species of native New Zealand tree in the Araliaceae family. From sea level to around 750 m above sea level, it can be found all over New Zealand. The juvenile form, which lasts for 15 to 20 years, is significantly distinct from the adult form. The leaves are rigid and leathery, up to 1 m long, 1 cm broad, and have uneven teeth. They all grow downward from a central stem. Characteristic vertical swelling ridges can be seen on the young trunk. As a tree ages, its trunk starts to branch, giving it a bushy top, while its leaves get larger and shorter as well as toothless. The tree doesn't take on the shape of a regular tree until it has fully grown. As an adult, P. crassifolius can reach a height of 15 m