Beilschmiedia taraire

Beilschmiedia taraire Details

Commonly known as Taraire, this is a unique, NZ native tree. Its prominent feature are the masses of olive-like, purple fruits through autumn and winter which are favoured by birds. Also of interest are the leaves, which, when young are covered in red-brown hairs which disappear as the tree ages. Older leaves are glossy green with a blue-green underside. The tree itself typically grows to 10 m tall and 7 m wide and has a smooth, brown trunk. Taraire grows best on a well-drained site in full sun though it will tolerate a range of soil conditions, barring extreme wet and dry, partial shade, moderate frost, and cool climates. This tree is commonly grown as a specimen, added to mixed plantings in larger gardens, or simply planted to attract birds.