Native seed catalogue

Podocarpus totara Totara | Tōtara

This guide is based on a literature review. It compiles information from various sources. Different sources may offer varying advice and findings.

Propagation summary

Propagation well understood. Variations in sowing to germination time frames are found with seasonal and locational differences. Easily grown from cuttings.

Seed propagation category

Hard.

Geographical distribution

Widespread in lowland forests. Found in scattered areas of the South Island with fertile soils.⁽¹⁾

Reproductive system

Dioecious – can only collect seeds from female plants.⁽²⁾

Seed collection

Seed collection happens from autumn to late winter with good seed production in most years.⁽³⁾ Seeds turn green when mature.⁽³⁾ Seeds can be collected from the ground or leaf litter beneath the trees.⁽¹⁾Seeds can be dispersed by birds.⁽⁴⁾

Seed storage

Recalcitrant⁽⁵⁾(seeds do not survive drying and freezing). Seeds need moist cool storage.⁽⁶⁾ Viable seeds can be stored for 6–18 months under moist and cool conditions.⁽³⁾

Seed dormancy

70 days to first germination⁽⁷⁾and can take 70–140 days during winter months.⁽⁸⁾

Pre-sowing treatments

Cool-moist stratification at 2–4 °C for 3–6 months (stratification is the process of chilling seeds to promote germination).⁽¹⁾

Seed viability

60% of seeds viable.⁽⁷⁾ Viable seeds contain white endosperm (the tissue found inside seeds that gives nutrition to the embryo during germination) with visible embryo.⁽⁸⁾

Germination

Irregular and sporadic germination that can take from 1.5–6 months.⁽¹⁾, ⁽⁹⁾ Good to moderate germination rate.⁽¹⁾ Seeds collected in winter have better germination.⁽¹⁾

Propagation techniques

Seeds sown in spring germinate faster.⁽⁹⁾ Cuttings form roots – even when taken from mature trees.^(8), ⁽³⁾Can be raised in containers or bare root systems.⁽¹⁾

Nursery practices

Can take up to 2 years to raise in the nursery before dispatch.⁽⁹⁾

Site sensitivity

Generally tolerant and prefers fertile sites.⁽³⁾

Susceptibility to disease and pests

Totara needle blight (Phytophora podocarpi).⁽¹⁰⁾

Research opportunities

Germination, seed storage, and vegetative propagation need further investigation.

Information about the native seed profiles

All species names are in the following order: scientific name, common name, and Māori name. Names may vary by region. We have tried to use the most common names across New Zealand.

We have sourced photos from different websites and creators. We have used the images under different licences. These include Public Domain and Creative Commons licenses. For Podocarpus totara, the image details are:

Photo by (c) Jacqui Geux – some rights reserved (CC BY)
Original image

The basis for each seed profile is a literature review carried out by Scion. Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service commissioned and worked on the review to produce a native seed catalogue. The full seed catalogue is on the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website.

Native afforestation research programme: Seed propagation catalogue

References

Bergin, D O; Kimberley, M O (1992) Provenance variation in Podocarpus totara. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 16(1), 5–13.

Bergin, D O; Kimberley, M O; Low, C B (2008) Provenance variation in Podocarpus totara (D. Don): Growth, tree form and wood density on a coastal site in the north of the natural range. Forest Ecology and Management 255(5–6), 1367–1378.

Bergin, D O (2000) Current knowledge relevant to management of Podocarpus totara for timber. New Zealand Journal of Botany 38, 343-359.

Harris, A; Dibley, M; Steward, G; Faulds, C; Harington P S (2017) Handbook: Propagation of four New Zealand podocarps. Scion; Rotorua, New Zealand (confidential).

Wyse, S V; Carlin, T F; Etherington, T R; Faruk, A; Dickie, J B; Bellingham, P J (2024) Can seed banking assist in conserving the highly endemic New Zealand indigenous flora? Pacific Conservation Biology 30, PC23029.

Bergin, D O (2003) Early performance of planted totara (Podocarpus totara) comparison with other indigenous conifers. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 33(2), 205–224.

Entrican, A R; Hinds, H V; Reid, J S (1957) Forest trees and timbers of New Zealand. New Zealand Forest Service Bulletin No. 12. R. E. Owen, Government Printer; Wellington, New Zealand

Bergin D (2003) Totara: establishment, growth, and management. New Zealand Indigenous Tree Bulletin No.1. New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited. Rotorua, New Zealand.

Bergin, D O (2010) DSFN-014 Sowing Seed of Selected Totara Provenances. Scion; Rotorua, New Zealand (confidential).

10.

Dobbie, K; Scott, P; Taylor, P; Panda P., Sen D., Dick M; McDougal R (2022) Phytophthora podocarpi sp. nov. from Diseased Needles and Shoots of Podocarpus in New Zealand Forests, 13, 214.

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