Botanical name:

Phyllocladus toatoa

Common name(s):

Toatoa

About:

Toatoa mainly grows in forests from sea level to 1000m in northern North Island. When cultivated, it can reach about 5m tall. Its leaves look like large, stiff, leathery celery, with a greyish-green colour and fan-shaped veins. This tree is unique and attractive, with a neat shape. However, Toatoa grows slowly compared to related species and can be difficult to cultivate. Its propagation is also challenging, making it less available in many areas.

Natural habitat:

Found from sea level to 1000m Toatoa is generally associated with relatively infertile soils on exposed ridges, around bog margins, and on other poorly drained land.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Shade & Wind tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North Island from about Awakino (in the west) and Lake Waikaremoana (in the east) north to Ahipara and Mangonui. There is an outlier population in the northern Kaimanawa Range. Somewhat uncommon and often absent over large parts of this range.

Height: 25m though much smaller in cultivation

Flowering: 

October - December with no discernible flower/s

Fruiting:

January – March

Uses:

Bird food/attractant, Riparian plantings, Forests & Timber.

How to grow:

Difficult. Although sometimes toatoa is easily grown even well established plants are prone to suddenly and inexplicably dying. Seems to do best in a free draining, moist soil with the root system kept in partial shade but the tree allowed to grow out into full sun.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though