Tree of the month

Tītoki.

MĀORI NAME: Tītoki ENGLISH NAME: New Zealand oak BOTANICAL NAME: Alectryon excelsus

GROWING HABIT

This native plant matures into a tree with a rounded head and foliage that is a deep green colour with a matte finish. During summer, rust-coloured flowers flourish, but it takes up to a year before they form fruit. At 10 years old, the t¯itoki will be around 7m tall with a 6m wide canopy, making it a very attractive tree that provides excellent shelter on farmland and can be an iconic feature centered in a paddock or large garden. It responds well to trimming, and can be shaped to form a screen or large hedge.

Large, scarlet fruits appear between November and August, and are a favourite snack of kereru¯ and other native manu. They then disperse the shiny black seeds around the country.

GROWS BEST IN?

T¯itoki can be found throughout the North and South Islands, all the way from Te Paki to Banks Peninsula and further on the West Coast. You’ll spot it on islands within the Hauraki Gulf. The tree thrives in fertile, welldrained soils in coastal regions and lowland forests, and along riverbanks. As it is a great shade tree, you’ll also see t¯itoki on city streets – look out for two beautiful ones on Victoria Street in Cambridge.

One of my favourite spots to admire t¯itoki is the Kaituna Valley Scenic Reserve in the South Island. It is one of the largest areas of t¯itoki forest in Canterbury and a pleasure to walk through – there is surprisingly little understorey growth in t¯itoki forests compared to many other forest types.

These majestic guardians are

covered with moss and have an entire ecosystem within their branches and trunks.

CARE & MAINTENANCE

T¯itoki are considered semi-hardy, meaning they grow happily in most situations, but young trees will need the support of a stake and shelter from strong winds and frosts. Regular watering is also important until the tree is well established.

It is content in coastal environments and enjoys basking in the sun. Once it is older, t¯itoki will tolerate frosts.

HOW TO PROPAGATE

Growing t¯itoki from seed is relatively straightforward. When the fruit is ripe, the capsules on the tree start to split and expose the seeds inside. Using your hands, you can easily peel as much of the flesh off as possible and sow the seed directly into free-draining soil. In warm conditions, they should only take a month or two to germinate, but the cold will slow down their progress.

Spring is the best time to propagate t¯itoki (and many other native trees).

USE IN RONGOĀ

T¯itoki was once highly valued for its high quality oil, which was incredibly difficult to extract from the seeds, with the fruits needing to be steamed over a long period of time.

Ma¯ori used it medicinally on painful joints, to treat wounds and sores, and to ease earache. It also works great as an insect repellant.

European watchmakers sought it to use as a lubricant in their craft.

FUN FACT

The scarlet berry can be used to produce a liqueur, first developed in the 1980s.

T¯itoki liqueur can still be found today at specialty shops, and is used mostly for cocktails and desserts.

MĀORI STORIES

The term “peka t¯itoki” is used in Ma¯ori proverbs to describe a person who is strong and will not surrender in the face of adversity. This comes from the renowned strength of the wood.

However, the wood does not actually fare all that well after extended periods of exposure to the weather. These days, t¯itoki wood is predominantly used by wood turners and furniture makers. ✤

EXPERT KNOWLEDGE

Trees That Count’s Taranaki Regional Advisor Sarah Roth is an experienced generalist ecologist. Her goal is to continue contributing to the reforestation and reintroduction of indigenous flora and fauna. Growing veges, surfing along Taranaki’s stunning coastline and tramping up Mt Taranaki are a few of her favourite pastimes.