Timaru’s Christmas star sits atop a special species of tree

The Christmas star that shines so brightly in the lower Wai-iti Rd basin in Timaru is supported by a friendly giant.

The Wellingtonia is a fabulous tree admired the world over for its height and longevity. Home territory for this species – sequoiadendron giganteum – is the western coast of North America.

Researchers find that some trees still standing date back to the era when BC turned to AD.

Strictly speaking the term redwood – as a highly prized timber for construction – refers to the species sequoia sempervirens, but often the name redwood is wrongly applied to its close cousin the Wellingtonia. In recent history, as travel between continents became available, visitors affected by the mana of these trees would take a seedling home with them from California to create an impression.

Specimens can be found throughout New Zealand, often standing proud in small towns such as Picton, Hanmer and Temuka. There are just a few forestry blocks of Wellingtonia in New Zealand, including Beaumont and Naseby.

Foresters report that these plantations produce the highest volume per hectare of any conifers in New Zealand. The trunk carries an enormous quantity of heartwood – a bright pinkish red surrounded by a narrow band of cream sapwood. Altogether quite a sight.

The heartwood changes colour to deep cherry red on exposure to air, and weathers to a warm brown. This timber is extremely durable without any chemical treatment.