One of New Zealand's most common and widespread forest trees, and all but the northernmost forms (which often have five pinnae) are fully hardy in the UK, where it makes a large shrub similar in shape to Pittosporum tenuifolium or P. eugenioides. The leaves are reminiscent of those of Eucryphia, which has recently been placed in the same family as Weinmannia - Cunoniaceae, a very Gondwanic family. Large, mature trees often have simple, rather than trifoliate leaves.

It's a mystery why W. racemosa has not become widely grown in the UK, as the range of hardy evergreen broadleafed trees is very limited. Easy to grow from the tiny seeds, which are produced every year, but can also be raised from cuttings of juvenile shoots from the base of the plant.