Pukatea Tree Has Buttress Roots

The native pukatea tree can grow some humongous buttress roots. Read about why puakatea trees have these unique plank buttress roots here.

New Zealand is full of unique trees that grow nowhere else in the world. Some, such as the Pohutukawa, produce beautiful red flowers, and other like lancewood have a very different juvenile and adult form. Another native tree that isn’t as well known as it’s brethren is the pukatea. The pukatea grows in native podocarp/broadleaf forest and may have massive buttress roots.

Big buttress roots on this pukatea. Photo Steve Goodin via iNaturalist.

The Native Pukatea Tree Has Buttress Roots

This is the only native New Zealand tree that grows large plank buttresses! I know that may sound kind of strange, but as the photo shows these are pretty impressive.

pukatea buttress roots
My backpack will give you an idea of how big the buttresses can be on these old pukatea trees. BIG!

What Is A Buttress Root?

A buttress is a type of root that grows out of the base of the trunk of a tree. They grow out from all sides of the trunk and serve two main purposes. First, they help keep the tree stable so that it won’t fall over. Secondly, they are roots, so they help the tree gather more nutrients.

Buttress roots can be found on trees that grow in the nutrient poor soil or shallow soil. They can often be found on trees in tropical forest or rainforests (like the native podocarp/broadleaf and beech forests of New Zealand).

pukatea buttress roots
This is a different pukatea tree from an angle that really shows how narrow those plank buttresses are – thin, like a board or plank.

Are There Any Other Native Trees That Have Buttresses?

Yes. Here in New Zealand there are a couple, but they are not these plank type buttresses. Mature tawa trees may grow buttresses as they age and kohekohe can also grow buttresses.

pukatea buttress roots
Ficus or fig trees (not in New Zealand) are well known trees with big buttress roots.

What Other Trees Outside Of New Zealand Have Buttress Roots?

Some of the most iconic trees with huge, gnarled buttresses are fig trees. If you have travelled in Asia you will have likely seen some of these amazing trees with their huge canopies, and tangled, spreading buttress roots. It is under one of these fig trees that the Buddha received enlightenment.