This genus of beautiful trees exhibits an unusual characteristic, which provides it with its name. The members of the genus, Phyllocladus, are almost completely devoid of true leaves, and have instead phylloclades (also known as cladodes), which are flattened stems that perform the role of photosynthesis. There are six species of Phyllocladus; three of which are endemic to New Zealand, one from Tasmania, one from Borneo and one species which occurs in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands.

Phyllocladus toatoa
Toatoa

Phyllocladus When I plant gardens, there are certain plants that I hope will last for a very long time and contribute to the wider landscape, and those whose role is more ephemeral. Of the former category, the most important plant is the toatoa; a tree that should be seen more frequently in New Zealand gardens, particularly in northern New Zealand (as it is endemic to the top half of the North Island).

Sir Joseph Hooker (who wrote the first comprehensive flora of New Zealand) proclaimed it "the most charming of all the New Zealand pines." It is interesting to consider that the toatoa is a conifer, as its appearance is quite atypical for a conifer - bearing, as it does, pinnate, broad "leaves". The similarity of the cladodes to leaves of members of the carrot family gave rise to the common name of its near relative, the tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides), which is generally known as the "celery pine". The toatoa forms a symmetrical, tapering tree, up to 15m tall (but only reaching 4.5 - 6m in gardens), with a trunk up to 60cm diameter.

It is easily distinguishable from its near relative, tanekaha (which grows in the same districts), by the size and colour of its cladodes (they are larger and often have a glaucous or bronze hue to them), and its more upright branching habit. On a botanical note, the toatoa is also distinguished from its New Zealand relatives by the fact that it can be dioecious (meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants) or monoecious (separate male and female flowers on the same plant). The other New Zealand species (P. trichomanoides and P. alpinus) are always monoecious.

Several authors of books on native trees and shrubs for cultivation have expressed consternation at why it has seldom been grown in New Zealand gardens. This would appear to be due to difficulties with propagation (cuttings are difficult and seed is not easy to procure at the right stage), and also due to a lack of commercial interest - for problems with propagation can often be resolved readily with investigation by nurserymen. A few specialist nurseries put the effort into propagating small numbers of toatoa for sale.

Phyllocladus toatoa was previously called Phyllocladus glaucus ("glaucus" on account of the bluish-green hue of the young foliage), but the name was changed in 1996. This was because the initial description for the species was based on the examination of a cultivated specimen of the Tasmanian species, Phyllocladus aspleniifolius, in France in 1865 (not a toatoa at all).

Notes on the cultivation and nature of New Zealand's other two species of Phyllocladus (the tanekaha, or P. trichomanoides, and the mountain toatoa, or P. aspleniifolius var. alpinus) will be added to the website in the near future.