Podocarpus totara aka Totara

Podocarpus totara is an evergreen conifer native to New Zealand. It belongs to the Podocarpaceae family and is called totara. Other names include totara pine and mahogany pine. It grows in forests on North, South, and Stewart Islands. Its range spans lowland woods, mountain forests, and subalpine sites. In gardens, it can form the canopy of woodland plantings.

Young trees have a cone shape and dense, spreading branches. The crown grows more open as the tree ages. Old trees can form a very thick trunk. Garden height estimates differ between sources. Oregon State suggests about 30 feet [9 metres] in landscapes. RHS lists heights above 39 feet [12 metres]. It also lists spreads beyond 26 feet [8 metres]. Trees in New Zealand can reach 98 feet [30 metres]. RHS gives a maturity time of more than 50 years.

The reddish-brown bark peels from the trunk. The narrow leaves look like those of a yew. They feel stiff and leathery, with sharp tips. Leaves spiral around the stems and have a clear midrib beneath. Their colour ranges from dark green to grey-green or brownish. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. The male flowers are yellow and look like small catkins. Female flowers are green and look like small cones. Female trees form fleshy, oval, pinkish-red fruit in autumn.

Choose a sunny site with shelter from harsh exposure. Oregon State also reports tolerance of light shade. The tree accepts chalk, clay, loam, and sand. It grows in acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. For best growth, provide fertile soil rich in humus. Keep the soil moist, but allow excess water to drain. RHS rates its UK hardiness as H5. PFAF lists USDA zones 8–11; Oregon State places it near zones 8–9. RHS reports few pest or disease problems and suggests low-maintenance plantings.

PFAF describes the fruit as edible, either raw or cooked. It tastes sweet and juicy, with a resin-like note before full ripeness. The same source states that the plant is not poisonous. It reports no known medicinal uses. The reddish wood has straight grain and lasts well in water. Builders and cabinet makers use it, though it can be brittle. Seeds may need more than a year to sprout. Semi-ripe cuttings from upright leading shoots offer another means of propagation.