Other Names:  Lowland Totara

Description:

A vigorous, dense variety that is initially bushy, becoming more open with age; gray-green foliage with a fine texture makes it a lovely accent on a large landscape; slow growing and long lived, so give lots of room; can be maintained as a screen

Ornamental Features

Totara has attractive grayish green evergreen foliage on a tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. The needles are highly ornamental and remain grayish green throughout the winter. The peeling khaki (brownish-green) bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Totara is a multi-stemmed evergreen tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and can be pruned at anytime. It is a good choice for attracting birds and squirrels to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Totara is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

Totara will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 100 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.