A massive, mature Podocarpus totara 'Totara' tree standing in a landscape, demonstrating its incredibly dense, long-lived evergreen canopy.
Looking up into the dense, olive-green canopy of a tall, mature Totara (Podocarpus totara) landscape specimen tree against a blue sky.
The straight, towering trunk of a New Zealand Totara (Podocarpus totara) in a forest setting, historically prized for its highly durable timber.
Close-up of the bright red, fleshy receptacles and stiff olive-green leaves on a female Podocarpus totara 'Totara' plant.
Close-up of the distinct reddish, stringy, and furrowed bark on the trunk of a mature Podocarpus totara 'Totara' tree.
Detailed close-up of the stiff, leathery, needle-like lanceolate foliage on a young Podocarpus totara 'Totara' starter plant.
A majestic, ancient Podocarpus totara 'Totara' tree with a sprawling green canopy, showcasing its immense architectural scale and heritage.
UPCOMING IN-HOUSE RELEASE & NETWORK SOURCING: We are actively producing a fresh 140mm cutting-grown crop. Advanced sizes (up to 300L) are available via our Sydney network.
PROPAGATION ADVISORY: Our previous seed-grown 200mm stock (originally sourced from South Island, NZ provenance) is currently sold out. Seed propagation for this species is notoriously slow and difficult due to strict dormancy. We are currently actively producing a much faster-establishing, highly consistent batch of 140mm cutting-grown stock, ready for release later this year. Join the waitlist below.

Totara Pine (Podocarpus totara)

Price range: $19.95 through $59.95

Estate Propagated & Premium NSW/VIC Network

Eastern States dispatch. WA, NT & TAS orders for our upcoming 140mm stock will be routed securely via our Plant Concierge. (Note: Advanced sizes limited to mainland Eastern States)

  • Superb for Formal Hedges & Topiary
  • Highly Coastal & Wind Tolerant
  • Deep Māori Cultural Heritage
  • Cultivation Waitlist Open

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The Iconic Architectural Giant of New Zealand

The Totara (Podocarpus totara) is a large, incredibly long-lived evergreen conifer and a towering icon of New Zealand’s lowland forests. It holds immense cultural significance for Māori, who prized its durable, straight-grained timber above all others for carving majestic waka (canoes) and wharenui (meeting houses). Visually, it features stiff, leathery olive-green foliage and striking, reddish, stringy bark. In the landscape, it is arguably one of the most versatile trees available: it is exceptionally tough, tolerates coastal winds, and clips flawlessly to create world-class formal hedges, dense screens, and topiary. We are currently cultivating premium 140mm cutting-grown starters, while securing massive advanced specimens (up to 300L) through our Sydney network.

Responds beautifully to pruning, making it a premier choice for dense, architectural hedging and screening.
Highly adaptable across Australia—thriving from cool-climate Tasmania to the subtropical conditions of Brisbane.
A dioecious species; female plants bear small, fleshy red receptacles (the "plum") that attract native birds.
A true Podocarp (NOT a Pinus)—meaning our upcoming 140mm stock will easily clear WA/NT Concierge entry.

At a Glance

Pot Size: 140mm (Upcoming Release) | Advanced up to 300L (Sydney Network)
Est. Plant Height: Approx. 40cm tall for 140mm (base to tip) upon release
Growth Habit: Large, long-lived evergreen (clips densely for hedges)
Style: Architectural Hedging / Coastal Screen / Heritage Specimen

UPCOMING ACTUAL PLANT SIZE: APPROX. 40CM TALL (140MM)*
*Heights are measured from the base of the pot to the tip of the leader. Advanced stock sizes will vary by network availability.

The Totara (Podocarpus totara) is far more than just a magnificent landscape tree; it is a living piece of New Zealand heritage. Revered by Māori, its incredibly strong, rot-resistant timber was the ultimate material for crafting giant waka (war canoes) and intricate structural carvings. In a contemporary Australian garden, it offers unrivalled versatility. It features stiff, leathery, olive-green foliage tightly packed along the shoot, contrasted by beautiful, reddish, stringy bark that deeply furrows with age.

For landscape designers, the Totara is a dream. It handles aggressive clipping and shaping effortlessly, making it one of the finest subjects for formal hedging, windbreaks, and topiary. Furthermore, its adaptability is legendary. You will find majestic specimens growing right in the heart of the Sydney Domain, handling the salt spray of coastal properties, and thriving all the way up into the subtropical warmth of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Currently, our original 200mm seed-grown crop (grown from South Island, NZ seed) is sold out. Growing Totara from seed is a labour of love—requiring incredibly fresh seed and enduring long, stubborn dormancy periods. Seed-grown plants also exhibit a fascinating botanical trait, presenting much thinner, lanceolate juvenile leaves that undergo distinct cycles as they mature. To provide a faster, highly consistent product for our hedging clients, we are currently producing an in-house crop of 140mm cutting-grown stock, which will be around 40cm tall upon release later this year. Join the waitlist to secure your architectural masterpiece.

  • The Ultimate Formal Hedge: The dense, leathery olive-green foliage responds superbly to pruning, allowing you to create flawless, wind-resistant screens and sharp topiary forms.
  • Incredible Adaptability: Whether facing coastal salt winds, cool temperate frosts, or subtropical heat in Brisbane, the Totara is a famously tough and accommodating tree.
  • Immense Cultural Heritage: A deeply respected tree in New Zealand, offering a living connection to centuries of Māori craftsmanship, waka building, and tradition.
  • Bird-Attracting "Plums": The Totara is dioecious (having separate male and female trees). Female plants produce fleshy, bright red receptacles that natively attract birds.

Curate Your Architectural Landscape

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    Trusted by Gardeners Like You

    ★★★★★
    "We used SVF's Totara stock to build a formal windbreak on a coastal property south of Sydney. It took the salt and the wind without missing a beat and clipped into a dense, perfect wall."
    — Anthony R., Landscape Architect, Illawarra Region (NSW)
    ★★★★★
    "I bought a couple of the old seed-grown ones years ago. It was amazing watching the juvenile leaves slowly transition into the mature, leathery adult foliage. A truly incredible, historic tree."
    — Donelle M., Private Collector, Mount Macedon (VIC)
    ★★★★★
    "We planted advanced Totara sourced through SVF's network for a subtropical design in Brisbane. They are thriving in the warmth and humidity. A very versatile plant."
    — Jaden T., Landscape Designer, Brisbane (QLD)
    What is the difference between seed-grown and cutting-grown Totara?
    Seed-grown Totara can be challenging to propagate, as it takes a long time to break dormancy. Fascinatingly, they also present thinner, lanceolate (spear-shaped) juvenile leaves that cycle through different appearances before maturing. Cutting-grown stock (which we are currently producing) is much faster to establish and provides highly uniform, predictable foliage right from the start—perfect for clients wanting consistent hedges.
    Will this survive in warmer areas like Brisbane?
    Absolutely. While it is native to New Zealand, the Totara is incredibly adaptable to both warm-temperate and subtropical climates. Provided it is planted in well-draining soil, it thrives in Sydney, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast just as well as it does in the cooler southern states.
    Question: Can you ship this to Western Australia and the Northern Territory?
    Yes! Despite sometimes being casually referred to as a "Totara Pine," it is NOT a member of the Pinus genus; it belongs to the Podocarpaceae family. Therefore, our upcoming 140mm stock is fully exempt from the strict state pine bans and can be legally shipped to WA and NT via our Plant Concierge.
    Question: Do all Totara trees get the red berries?
    No. Podocarpus totara is dioecious, meaning individual trees are either male or female. Only the female trees will produce the small, fleshy red receptacles (often called the "plum") after being pollinated.

    Detailed Description and Specs

    The Totara (Podocarpus totara) is a monumental tree, both in physical stature and cultural weight. Endemic to the lowland forests of New Zealand, it produces an incredibly durable, rot-resistant timber that was historically the premier choice for Māori waka (canoes) and detailed wharenui carvings. In the garden, it is an exceptionally long-lived evergreen.

    Visually, it is characterised by its stiff, leathery, olive-green needle-like leaves and attractive, reddish-brown stringy bark that develops deep furrows over time. It is unmatched in its versatility—thriving as a towering standalone specimen or clipped tightly into an impenetrable, formal hedge. We are actively cultivating 140mm cutting-grown starters right here at SVF, while offering access to massive 300L advanced specimens via our Sydney network for immediate commercial impact.

    Here’s why we consider the Totara a landscape essential:

    • Species: Podocarpus totara (Totara)
    • Provenance: SVF Cultivation (140mm cuttings) & Premium Sydney Network (Advanced)
    • Growth Habit: Large, long-lived evergreen that responds superbly to dense clipping
    • Foliage: Stiff, leathery, olive-green needle-like leaves
    • Best For: Formal hedging, coastal windbreaks, topiary, and heritage specimen planting

    Care and Planting Guide

    The Totara is famously tough, making it one of the most reliable evergreens for a variety of challenging Australian climates.

    • Sunlight: Performs brilliantly in full sun to partial shade. Full sun will encourage the tightest, densest foliage growth—especially important if you intend to use it as a formal hedge.
    • Soil & Adaptability: Highly forgiving. It tolerates a wide range of soils, from fertile loams to sandy coastal profiles, provided there is adequate drainage. It is highly tolerant of coastal salt spray and strong winds.
    • Climate: Very adaptable. It thrives in cool-temperate areas (like Tasmania and the Southern Highlands), Mediterranean climates, and even subtropical zones like Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
    • Pruning: If growing as a hedge or topiary, it can be aggressively clipped. For the best structural results, clip lightly and regularly during the active growing season to encourage dense inner branching.

    Shipping and Delivery

    Note: The following shipping pathways will apply once our 140mm stock is released. Advanced network stock (up to 300L) is strictly restricted to mainland Eastern States freight.

    Eastern States (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA)
    Eligible for standard shipping via our secure specialist plant freight network. Stock will be dispatched directly from the SVF farm or our Sydney network with no additional biosecurity treatments required.

    Tasmania (TAS), Western Australia (WA) & Northern Territory (NT)
    Because the Totara is a member of the Podocarpaceae family (and NOT a Pinus), it is completely exempt from the strict state pine bans.

    All orders to TAS, WA, and NT for our upcoming 140mm stock must be routed through our Plant Concierge. Our licensed quarantine specialist will carry out all mandatory treatments and inspections under your specific state’s protocol before securely forwarding the plants to you via Express Post. Start your enquiry at Plant Concierge.

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