lacebark of the wet western mountain valleys

Size
Height: 6–10 m
Lifespan
50–100 years
Diet
Not applicable (tree). Photosynthetic organism deriving nutrients from soil and sunlight through root system and leaf structure.
Habitat
Mountain forests, stream banks, and open sites in montane to subalpine zones. Prefers damp, well-drained soils with full sun to partial shade. Tolerates cold, snow, and frost.
Range
Found in South Island west of the Southern Alps, from north-west Nelson to Fiordland. Most common in mountain forests. Also found in central Otago where ranges overlap with H. lyallii.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
Habitat loss from land clearance is primary threat. Browsing by introduced possums and deer. Climate change affecting subalpine habitats. No significant pest or disease issues identified.
Population
Populations are considered stable in remaining forest fragments. Species is common in mountain forests west of the Southern Alps. Not considered threatened but faces ongoing habitat loss.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Human Risk
harmless
Handling Note
native broadleaf tree/shrub, safe to handle
Conservation Note
Endemic shrub or small tree; restricted to western South Island forests.
Assessment
NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
Te Ao Māori
In Māori tradition, mountain lacebark was valued for its fibrous inner bark. Like all houhere species. Bark was stripped. Fibres were plaited into ropes for fishing nets and other uses. Deciduous habit was noted. Showy flowers were admired. Wood was used for making small tools. The tree represents resilience in the high country.
Large, heart-shaped leaves turn yellow before falling. Mountain lacebark is one of two fully deciduous lacebark species in the South Island mountains. It loses its leaves on purpose. Grows mainly west of the Southern Alps, where rain falls and mist hangs. Stands bare against the snow in winter. A tree that does not try to fight the cold. The leaves are soft, bright green, and toothed. Up to 15 centimetres long. Flowers are the story. Large, white, and sweetly scented. Appearing in summer in clusters. The tree becomes a cloud of white. A patch of perfume in the mountain forest. Blooms when the weather is warm. Bark peels to reveal tough, net-like fibrous layers. Like all lacebarks. Fibres used by Māori for making rope and fishing nets. To see a mountain lacebark in summer is to see a tree transformed. White flowers cover the branches. Air is sweet with perfume. Leaves are green and soft. Bark is peeling. Trunk is straight. In winter, the tree is bare. A skeleton against the snow. This species grows mainly west of the Southern Alps. Overlaps with H. lyallii in central Otago. The two species hybridise there. Flowers are showy. Bark is fibrous. Tree is deciduous. Mountain lacebark is not a king. It is not a warrior. It is the tree of the mountain. The one that loses its leaves in winter and flowers in summer. The snow falls. The tree stands bare. Branches black against the white. Snow melts. Leaves return. Flowers bloom. The tree does not complain about the cold. It just waits for summer. It has been here for millennia. It will be here as long as the snow falls on the mountains. Populations are considered stable in remaining forest fragments. Common in mountain forests west of the Southern Alps. Not considered threatened. Threatened by ongoing habitat loss and browsing by possums. Protection of mountain forest is critical for survival. No one told it otherwise.