Abundant tree on the main islands of the Chatham group. Tarahinau (Dracophyllum arboreum) is however scarce in the northern part of Rekohu. Image shows isolated trees growing in rough pasture and a juvenile (the species is strongly heteroblastic) growing amongst Hypolepis ambigua and Histiopteris incisa at the head of a small gully in a place inaccessible to cattle.

The name 'Chatham island grass tree' is NOT used on the Chatham Islands - where this species is universally known as 'Tarahinau' a much better name by far than 'grass tree'