tītoki
about.
Alectryon excelsus subsp. excelsus | New Zealand ash, tītoki
Tītoki is a native evergreen tree with its glossy green foliage is complemented by sprays of woolly, rust-colored flowers in summer. With its spreading habit, tītoki provides excellent shade, making it a popular choice as a specimen, avenue tree, or even a large hedge or screen due to its tolerance of trimming. The tree's attractive, mid-green pinnate leaves often have serrated edges, and its new growth emerges with a paler, reddish tinge. Scarlet seed capsules split open to reveal shiny black seeds, adding to its visual appeal. Tītoki thrives in semi-sheltered, sunny positions with humus-rich, free-draining soil. It is a hardy tree that makes a fantastic sheltered avenue tree.
typical habitat.
coastal forest
lowland forest
drainage.
well drained
sun.
full sun
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 10m
width | 3m / 50cm (trunk)
pollinators calendar.
flowering | October - December (-June)
fruiting | November - August
did you know?
The strong, durable wood of the tītoki tree, with its straight grain and reddish hue, has earned it the moniker "New Zealand oak." Easy to work with, it was historically valued for its strength and resilience, qualities that are reflected in the Māori phrase "peka tītoki," which compares the tree's toughness to that of a strong leader or iwi that would not surrender.