Pseudopanax ferox (Toothed Lancewood, Horoeka)

Pseudopanax ferox, the Toothed Lancewood or Horoeka, is a small tree endemic to New Zealand. It is similar to the more common lancewood, Pseudopanax crassifolius, but with more prominently tooth-shaped leaves. The juvenile leaves are a very dark grey-brown to grey-green colour, narrow, stiff and up to 40cm long. Once the slow growing tree reaches maturity at 10-15 years, the leaf form becomes shorter, wider and dark green in colour. It is only in adulthood that the tree's shape changes from one central stem and downward growing leaves to a more typical tree shape with branches spreading to build a round head. A mature toothed lancewood can reach 3-6m height with a trunk of up to 25cm in diameter. The canopy can spread to about 60cm across at maturity. The mature trunk has distinctive longitudinal grooves which sometimes twist slightly.

The distinctive leaves and juvenile shape lend themselves to use in narrow spaces and are often used to complement modern building architecture.