Ti Toki

Ti Toki (Alectryon excelsus)

An attractive lowland forest tree found in most parts of the North Island and in the north of the South Island, sometimes reffered to a ‘NZ Oak’. It’s timber was often used as axe-handles, horse yolks and in coach building. It is an attractive garden feature reaching to 9 metres with a spreading canopy. The small brown hairy seed capsules initially resemble clusters of nuts, but eventually burst open revealing a bright red raspberry-like fruit with a large black seed attached to one side. The edible fruit are used to make TiToki liqueur, but are also a favourite of the native Wood Pigeon.