One of New Zealand’s most iconic native trees, tōtara is a large, long-lived conifer valued for its strength, adaptability, and cultural significance. It is highly versatile in the landscape—equally suited as a specimen tree, clipped hedge, shelterbelt, or component of large-scale restoration plantings.
🌱 Plant Facts
• Growth habit: Large evergreen native conifer
• Foliage: Very dark green, sharply pointed leaves
• Bark: Thick, fibrous, and stringy
• Height: Up to 30 m
• Flowering: August – December (no visible flowers)
• Fruiting: Fruits mature over ~1 year, most commonly seen April – May
🌍 Natural Habitat
• Widespread in lowland, montane, and lower subalpine forest
• Occurs from sea level to c. 500 m
• Can form forest types where it is the dominant canopy species
🌿 Growing Environment
• Sun tolerant (also tolerates partial shade)
• Drought tolerant once established
• Salt tolerant
• Wind tolerant
• Coastal tolerant
• Free-draining soil tolerant
Exceptionally adaptable and reliable across a wide range of sites, including exposed and challenging conditions.
📍 Endemic Distribution
• Common throughout most of the North and South Islands
• Present but extremely rare on Stewart Island (Freshwater River)
🌾 Uses
• Bird food and attractant
• Bee food
• Hedging and screening (responds well to clipping)
• Riparian and restoration plantings
• Shade and specimen trees
• Forest establishment and durable timber production
• Shelterbelts and windbreaks
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
A hardy, long-lived tree that establishes well in a wide variety of soils provided drainage is reasonable. Once established, tōtara is low maintenance and highly resilient. It can be left to develop into a large forest tree or regularly clipped to form a dense, formal hedge or shelterbelt, making it one of the most versatile native trees for both residential and large-scale plantings.
📏 Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5cm – 20cm, 350ml)
• PB3 (20cm – 70cm, 1.5L)
• PB8 (50cm+, 3.5L)
• PB18 (1m+, 8.5L)
• PB40 (2m+, 18.5L)
⏱️ Timeframe:
We ship Monday – Wednesday for South Island customers and Monday/Tuesday for Rural and North Island customers. Orders placed outside these days will be fulfilled the following week.
📦 Local pick ups and/or deliveries will be made by arrangement.
“We’ll donate $1 per plant sold to national conservation efforts, helping to protect and restore New Zealand’s natural heritage”
One of New Zealand’s most iconic native trees, tōtara is a large, long-lived conifer valued for its strength, adaptability, and cultural significance. It is highly versatile in the landscape—equally suited as a specimen tree, clipped hedge, shelterbelt, or component of large-scale restoration plantings.
🌱 Plant Facts
• Growth habit: Large evergreen native conifer
• Foliage: Very dark green, sharply pointed leaves
• Bark: Thick, fibrous, and stringy
• Height: Up to 30 m
• Flowering: August – December (no visible flowers)
• Fruiting: Fruits mature over ~1 year, most commonly seen April – May
🌍 Natural Habitat
• Widespread in lowland, montane, and lower subalpine forest
• Occurs from sea level to c. 500 m
• Can form forest types where it is the dominant canopy species
🌿 Growing Environment
• Sun tolerant (also tolerates partial shade)
• Drought tolerant once established
• Salt tolerant
• Wind tolerant
• Coastal tolerant
• Free-draining soil tolerant
Exceptionally adaptable and reliable across a wide range of sites, including exposed and challenging conditions.
📍 Endemic Distribution
• Common throughout most of the North and South Islands
• Present but extremely rare on Stewart Island (Freshwater River)
🌾 Uses
• Bird food and attractant
• Bee food
• Hedging and screening (responds well to clipping)
• Riparian and restoration plantings
• Shade and specimen trees
• Forest establishment and durable timber production
• Shelterbelts and windbreaks
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
A hardy, long-lived tree that establishes well in a wide variety of soils provided drainage is reasonable. Once established, tōtara is low maintenance and highly resilient. It can be left to develop into a large forest tree or regularly clipped to form a dense, formal hedge or shelterbelt, making it one of the most versatile native trees for both residential and large-scale plantings.
📏 Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5cm – 20cm, 350ml)
• PB3 (20cm – 70cm, 1.5L)
• PB8 (50cm+, 3.5L)
• PB18 (1m+, 8.5L)
• PB40 (2m+, 18.5L)
⏱️ Timeframe:
We ship Monday – Wednesday for South Island customers and Monday/Tuesday for Rural and North Island customers. Orders placed outside these days will be fulfilled the following week.
📦 Local pick ups and/or deliveries will be made by arrangement.
“We’ll donate $1 per plant sold to national conservation efforts, helping to protect and restore New Zealand’s natural heritage”
