Podocarpus totara
Common name: 
Totara
Lowland Totara
Pronunciation: 
po-do-KAR-pus toh-TAR-uh
Family: 
Podocarpaceae
Genus: 
Podocarpus
Type: 
Conifer
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Conifer, evergreen tree, to 100 ft (30 m) tall in its native New Zealand, probably 30 ft a landscape, dense, spreading branches, initially a bushy tree, more open with age, may attain a massive trunk.   Leaves needle-like, spirally arranged, linear-lanceolate, resembling a yew, 15-30 mm long and 3-4 mm wide, on old plants 20 × 1-2 mm, gray-green to brownish, stiff, leathery, prickly, distinct mid-rib below.   Pollen cones 1-1.5 cm long, solitary or up to 4 together on a short peduncle.  Female branchlets axillary, flowers solitary or paired, peduncle 2-3 mm long; receptacle of 2-4 scales, acute and free at tips, usually red, swollen and succulent, occasionally dry.
  • Sun or light shade.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 9     Native to New Zealand, found on both the North and South Islands, in lowland, montane and lower subalpine forests.  One of the largest trees in New Zealand forests.
  • totara: the Maori name of the plant
  • Santa Cruz, California: U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • branches

    branches

  • shoot

    shoot

  • leaves

    leaves