Pinus Radiata

Pinus radiata is the main timber species grown in New Zealand and we are the principal radiata seed supplier.

As a member of the New Zealand Radiata Pine Breeding Company we use the best selected and progeny tested breeding stock from the New Zealand radiata pine breeding programme. This programme is acknowledged as one of the best tree breeding programmes in the world. Using this material we can produce both open-pollinated (OP) and control-pollinated (CP) seed in our orchards.

Seed production

In our OP orchards seed results from natural interbreeding of many different parent trees. While the identity and breeding value of each female parent bearing seed is known, that of the male parents is less certain.

In our CP orchards we isolate flowers to prevent pollination by wild pollen and then later hand pollinate them with selected pollen. Since both of the parents and their breeding values are known the level of genetic improvement of resulting seed can be estimated more accurately.

Because of this, growth and form (GF) ratings given for CP seed are better than for OP seed.

Control-pollination also allows us to produce seedlots with special characteristics, for example, increased wood density, and increased resistance to Dothistroma needle blight.

Designer seedlots

Our "off the shelf" seedlots are designed to be suitable for most New Zealand conditions. All have improved growth and form and some also offer improved wood properties and disease resistance.

We also produce a Guadalupe x radiata and other radiata hybrid seedlots.

All our radiata pine seedlots are certified by the New Zealand Seed Certification Service. Sometimes we supply GF Plus rated seed before certification has been completed, in which case ratings given are interim only and may vary slightly from those finally assigned on the seed certificate.