10x Alpine Totara Hedge - $7.99 each
Podocarpus nivalis – Mountain Tōtara Hedge
Common Names: Mountain Tōtara, Snow Tōtara
Family: Podocarpaceae
Origin: New Zealand
Plant Type: Evergreen native conifer / hedging shrub
Overview
Podocarpus nivalis, commonly known as Mountain Tōtara or Snow Tōtara, is a tough, naturally dense New Zealand native that makes an attractive and highly durable evergreen hedge. Its compact branching and small, dark green foliage create excellent year-round structure while retaining a softer and more natural appearance than many conventional hedge plants.
Naturally adapted to exposed alpine and subalpine environments, Mountain Tōtara is particularly useful for cold, frosty and windy gardens. When regularly trimmed it can be maintained as a dense hedge at approximately 1–1.5 m high, making it ideal for boundaries, garden divisions, driveway edges and low screening.
Key Features
Foliage: Small, dense, deep green evergreen foliage providing year-round colour and screening.
Hedging Habit: Naturally branching and compact, responding well to regular clipping and gradually forming a dense, substantial hedge.
Form & Habit: Low-growing and spreading in its natural form, but easily trained into a more upright, structured hedge through regular trimming.
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate. Establishes steadily and develops into an increasingly dense and durable hedge with age.
Hardiness: Exceptionally hardy once established, with very good tolerance of frost, cold conditions and exposed sites.
Recommended Hedge Spacing
For a dense Mountain Tōtara hedge, plants can generally be spaced approximately 40–60 cm apart.
Closer spacing is particularly useful where a lower, tighter hedge is wanted or where quicker initial coverage is important. Wider spacing is suitable where the hedge will be allowed to develop into a taller, broader and slightly more informal screen.
10-Plant Hedge Pack
| Desired Hedge Height | Example Plant Spacing | Approx. Finished Length – 10 Plants |
|---|---|---|
| 60 cm–1 m | 40 cm | 4 m |
| 1–1.5 m | 50 cm | 5 m |
| 1–1.5 m, more informal | 60 cm | 6 m |
Spacing is general guidance only. Final spacing can be adjusted depending on how quickly you want the hedge to fill, the desired finished height and how tightly you intend to maintain it.
Mature Size
| Hedge Height | 1–1.5 m |
| Hedge Width | Approx. 60 cm–1 m when maintained |
| Unclipped Height | Approx. 1–1.5 m |
| Form | Dense, spreading evergreen shrub |
Ideal Growing Conditions
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Water | Moderate while establishing; relatively low requirements once established |
| Soil | Well-drained soils; adaptable to a range of garden soils |
| pH Range | Tolerant of mildly acidic to neutral soils |
| Frost Tolerance | Excellent |
Landscaping & Garden Uses
- Low evergreen hedging
- Boundary and driveway planting
- Garden screening and divisions
- Alpine and Central Otago-style landscapes
- Cold and frost-prone gardens
- Exposed and windy sites
- Native gardens
- Contemporary New Zealand landscapes
- Low-maintenance properties
Care & Maintenance
Pruning: Trim lightly from an early age to encourage dense branching. Once the desired dimensions are reached, clip as required to maintain the hedge. One or two trims per year will generally be sufficient for a tidy but natural-looking hedge.
Watering: Water regularly during establishment, particularly during extended dry periods. Once established, Mountain Tōtara is relatively tolerant of dry conditions.
Feeding: Generally requires little feeding. A light application of a general-purpose slow-release fertiliser during spring can encourage establishment and healthy growth.
Pests & Diseases: Generally hardy and trouble-free when grown in suitable conditions.
Additional Tips
For the best hedge, begin light formative pruning before the plants reach their final desired height. This encourages branching lower down and produces a fuller hedge rather than allowing the plants to become open at the base.
Mountain Tōtara is an especially good option where conventional hedge plants struggle with cold, frost or exposure.
Fun Fact / Botanical Insight
The name nivalis relates to snow, reflecting this species' natural association with New Zealand's cold alpine and subalpine environments. Its naturally tough growth habit makes it particularly well suited to southern and high-country gardens.
Why Choose a Mountain Tōtara Hedge?
Mountain Tōtara combines the toughness of an alpine New Zealand native with the structure and year-round coverage required from a good hedge. It tolerates conditions that can be challenging for many traditional hedging plants while providing attractive native foliage and a hedge that becomes increasingly substantial with age.
Its naturally slower, dense growth also means less frequent trimming than many fast-growing hedge species, making it an excellent choice for a hardy, long-lived and relatively low-maintenance native hedge.
Pot Size
This pack contains 10 plants.
These are our standard size in 7cm square pots.
Pot Size:
Standard Pot = 7cm Square
Large Pot = 9cm Square
Extra Large Pot = 1.5L Round
Use this guide to see how many plants of your selected pot size fit into a carton.
Standard Pot (7cm) = 50 plants per Carton
Large Pot (9cm) = 25 plants per Carton
Extra Large Pot (1.5l) = 10 plants per Carton
Urban- $19.90 per Carton Rural- $25.85 per Carton
Product Size:
The photo next to the ruler shows an example of the plant for sale (cm's) to give an indication of the size. Please note that the photo is for reference only; the size and appearance of the plant may vary.
Please Note:
Shipping charge applies. Available for immediate dispatch only, while stocks last.
