About
Podocarpus totara, totara, is a large, evergreen coniferous tree to 30 m, conical when young then spreading with age, with peeling, reddish-brown bark and dark-green, yew-like foliage. Yellow, catkin-like male flowers and green, cone-like female flowers are borne on separate trees, with female plants producing fleshy, pinkish-red, oval fruit in autumn. A majestic and ornamental conifer for a large, sheltered garden.
About the genus
Podocarpus are evergreen shrubs or trees with spirally arranged, often two-ranked, linear or lance-shaped leaves and fleshy, plum-shaped fruits on female plants. A large genus of conifers from the Southern Hemisphere, grown as ornamental specimen plants.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeConifers, Trees
HabitBushy, Spreading branched
FoliageEvergreen
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full heightMore than 50 years
Suggested usesArchitectural
Native toNew Zealand
Care notes
CultivationTolerant of a range of soils, but does best in fertile, moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in a sunny, sheltered position
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by seed, which may take over a year to germinate, or by semi-ripe cuttings from upright, leading shoots in late summer
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free