Dacrydium cupressinum is a large tree endemic to New Zealand, with the greatest concentrations occurring on the southwest of South Island and on Rakiura Island. It is often found in podocarp/mixed hardwood forest plant associations.

With a common name of Rimu, this tree can attain a height of 35 to 50 metres. Trees can attain a lifespan approaching a millennium. Cones are approximately one centimetre in length and the leaf arrangement is spiral.