Botanical name:

Alectryon excelsus

Common name(s):

New Zealand Oak, Titoki

About:

A small tree with beautifully spreading branches and a strikingly dark, fluted trunk. Its leaves consist of 3 to 7 offset pairs of glossy, dark green leaflets that catch the light beautifully. The tree produces vibrant red flowers in small, clustered sprays that attract a variety of pollinators. Its fleshy red fruit partially surrounds a prominent black seed, emerging from a furry brown capsule. This appealing fruit is a favourite food of the Kererū, New Zealand’s native wood pigeon, which enjoys feasting on it during the fruiting season.

Natural habitat:

A widespread coastal to lowland forest tree. Often favouring well drained, fertile, alluvial soils along river banks and associated terraces. It is also a major component of coastal forests, particularly those developed within exposed situations or on basaltic or andesite volcanics. It is a common offshore island tree within the Hauraki Gulf. The large fruits are bird dispersed and so titoki trees often occur as a sparse components of most lowland forest types, throughout the North Island.

Growing environment:

Sun, Wind, Salt, Drought & Coastal tolerant

Endemic distribution:

North and South Islands from Te Paki to Banks Peninsula

Height: 10m

Flowering:

October - December (-June) with a red or pink coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

November - August

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Forests.

How to grow: Easy from fresh seed. Grows quickly in suitable conditions, preferring well drained, fertile soils in full sun or partial shade. A popular street tree, and as the fruit is bird dispersed it often naturalises in gardens from street side plantings

** The seeds are perishable and cannot be stored. After collection & cleaning the seed should be sown immediately.