Plant in sun and water regularly. Hardy to at least 15 degrees F, it has been planted in the UK as far north as Inverewe, Scotland. This tree grows naturally in lowland, montane and lower subalpine forests below 2,000 feet throughout the North Island of New Zealand and in the northeastern area of the South Island where the hard straight-grained wood that is very resistant to rot has been used for many purposes including fence posts, building supports and railroad ties and has long been used by the Maori people for wood carvings.

We have several beautiful specimens of this species in Santa Barbara and there is an attractive group of them near the rose garden at the Huntington Gardens. The name for the genus is derived from Greek words 'podo' meaning "foot" or "footed" and 'karpos' which means "fruit" in reference to the fleshy stalk or receptacle that holds the seed. This is lacking on some plants previously included in this genus and these plants have been transferred to the new genus Afrocarpus. The specific epithet is the Maori name for the plant and is from a Proto-Polynesian word 'totara' that refers to "spiny creatures", especially the Porcupinefish. 

Information displayed on this page about Podocarpus totara is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.