Resistance to stock browsing makes tōtara a common sight and a particularly useful tree for farm planting.
Like its cousin kahikatea, tōtara produces sweet, succulent fruit in large quantities during late summer which attract fruit eating birds.
Tōtara growing among other trees grows tall and straight, but growing out in the open is much more spreading.
The shade from a mature tōtara will improve the water habitat and help exclude pasture weeds from the fenced off area.
Like most large trees tōtara will take time to grow so plant sparingly about four to five metres apart and interplant with quicker growing but shade tolerant shrubs and some quick establishing species as well.
