Podocarpus totara

RHS Plant Profile
totara

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totara RHS

Other common names

mahogany pine, totara pine

Conifers Trees

A large, evergreen tree, to 30m, conical at first, then spreading, 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. Female trees go on to produce fleshy, pinkish-red, oval fruit in autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
more than 50 years
Max Spread
wider than 8 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Podocarpaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Spreading branched
Genus
Podocarpus can be evergreen shrubs or trees, with spirally arranged, but usually 2-ranked, leaves which may be linear or narrowly lanceolate; plum-shaped fleshy fruits are produced only where male and female trees grow together
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
New Zealand

How to Grow

Cultivation

Tolerant of a range of soils, but does best in fertile, moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in a sunny, sheltered position

Propagation

Propagate by seed, which may take over a year to germinate, or by semi-ripe cuttings from upright, leading shoots in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free