Flowering mainly in October and November, the ti kouka is a distinctive plant with a tall, straight trunk and a dense crown of long, flax-like leaves. Its strongly scented flower clusters produce nectar that attracts many insects, while its fruit ripens in late summer. The tree is an important food source for birds, especially tīeke that feed on insects among the leaves. Māori traditionally used its leaves for weaving, steamed the roots and inner pith to make a porridge-like food called kauru, and ate young shoots raw or cooked. The common name comes from the cabbage-like taste of boiled young leaves. The genus Cordyline includes about 15 species worldwide, with five in New Zealand, four of which are unique to the country.

Karo is a small coastal tree that grows up to 10 metres tall and is one of the most common trees on Tiritiri Matangi. Found along forest margins and coastal areas in the upper North Island, karo has tough, dark green leaves with a whitish, hairy underside to resist salt-laden winds. Its dark red flowers bloom in late winter and early spring and are an important nectar source for tūī and bellbirds, providing similar energy to later-flowering pōhutukawa. Female trees produce green fruit capsules from September, which split open to reveal sticky black seeds—another valuable food for birds. The name Pittosporum means “tar seed,” referring to the resin-coated seeds, and crassifoliummeans “coarse-leaved.” In 2013, a karo on Tiritiri was found hosting the island’s first green mistletoe.

Nīkau is New Zealand’s only native palm and the southernmost palm in the world, commonly found in North Island lowland forests and as far south as Banks Peninsula and the Chatham Islands. It grows up to 10 metres tall, with fronds reaching 3 metres and leaflets up to 1 metre long. Small pink unisexual flowers appear in summer at the base of the fronds, and red berries take about a year to ripen. On Tiritiri Matangi, nīkau can be seen along the Wattle Track in the damp area near the hihi feeder.

Māhoe is a small native tree found on Tiritiri Matangi and throughout New Zealand’s lowland forests. It grows up to 10 metres tall and is easily recognised by its pale bark, often covered in white lichen, this lichen thrives in the tree’s moist, shaded habitat and gives the tree its common name. On Tiritiri Matangi, māhoe supports forest regeneration, with small yellowish flowers in spring and autumn. Female trees produce purple fruit in summer, attracting native birds.