Artists choose for their tree pictures the most distinctive trees, that are widely spread in New Zealand. Their given names mirror often one of their characteristics.
The Cabbage tree received his name after his taste by Captain Cook. The blooming colour yellow led the Maori people to the name Kowhai tree. While on landing on this island a Maori chief thought the blooms of the pohutukawa tree would make a great head decoration and therefore took credit for the name.
So have some of the New Zealand trees their story if you are interested read on...