See text Athrotaxis is a genus of two to three species (depending on taxonomic opinion) of conifers in the cypress family, Cupressaceae.

[3] The oldest fossil of the genus is known from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) of Santa Cruz Province in Argentina, South America, with other fossils of the genus known from New Zealand, eastern Australia, and possibly North America.

All three make very attractive ornamental trees with luxuriant foliage, though they are generally only planted in arboretums or botanical gardens.

Cultivation away from their native range is successful only in areas with high rainfall, mild winters, and cool summers, such as the British Isles, the Pacific Northwest of North America, and New Zealand.

[citation needed] Examples of the species and many of its leaf forms may be seen in the living collections at The Tasmanian Arboretum.