Torreya
( TOR - ee - uh )
At-A-Glance Information
This genus of slow-growing conifer trees includes species native to both Asia and North America. Trees are small to medium-sized, reaching between 17 and 65 feet tall when mature. Foliage is evergreen and needle-like, and trees are commonly called Nutmeg Yews. Bark is brown to reddish-brown and becomes fissured with age. Use these gorgeous trees as specimens in shaded areas, in bioswales or rain gardens, or as evergreen privacy or backdrop landscaping.
|
Torreya species and varietals
The genus Torreya includes 6 to 7 species and is a member of the plant family Taxaceae (or Cephalotaxaceae, depending on who you ask). The genus is named for John Torrey, an American botanist. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Torreya californica (California Nutmeg) This species of evergreen tree needs full sun to partial shade and moderate water for best performance and growth. They are native to California's shaded mountain areas below 4,500 feet. They are slow-growers that eventually reach 15-20 feet tall and 12-15 feet wide. Crown is open and pyramidal, and branches are horizontal and slender. Foliage is dark green to blue-green, and has white banding on needle undersides. Fruit resembles a plum, and is pale green with purple markings. California Nutmeg grows well in zones 4-9 and 14-24. |
Torreya taxifolia (Florida Torreya, Stinking-Cedar, Florida Nutmeg, Gopher Wood) This species of Torreya is native to the southeastern United States (between Florida and Georgia). These trees reach 60 feet tall with open, conical crowns. Bark is shallowly fissured on mature trees. Needles are green and glossy above and light green below. |
Caring for and pruning torreya Trees
These beautiful landscape trees do well in partial shade. For optimal growth and foliage color, make sure that the tree receives between 4 and 6 hours of direct sun each day. These trees can grow to be quite large, so make sure that the chosen planting site has enough space to allow for the full size of the tree. These trees prefer moist but well-draining soil that is slightly acidic to neutral with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0. They can tolerate a wide variety of soil types, as long as they are well-draining, but do prefer loamy soils. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of trees to suppress weed growth, increase soil moisture retention, and help to regulate soil temperatures. Water new plantings regularly as they develop strong root systems. During dry spells, make sure to provide extra deep waterings. Established trees are somewhat drought-tolerant, but do perform best with consistent moisture. Water deeply, especially during long dry periods of the year, and allow soil to dry out somewhat between waterings to discourage fungal root rot issues.
These trees do not require heavy feedings and typically do well with a simple application of organic compost to their root zone yearly in springtime. If trees seem to be struggling or foliage is somewhat discolored, trees may benefit from an extra feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10). Avoid over-fertilizing trees, as this can negatively affect their growth and development over time. These trees also don't require heavy prunings, and have a natural pyramidal shape. Prunings should focus on maintaining this form instead of changing it. In late winter or early springtime, remove dead, broken, or diseased branches and lightly shape the canopy by removing crossing or poorly placed branches. Don't prune off too much foliage at any one time, as this can damage the tree and open it up to attacks from pests and disease.
These trees do not require heavy feedings and typically do well with a simple application of organic compost to their root zone yearly in springtime. If trees seem to be struggling or foliage is somewhat discolored, trees may benefit from an extra feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10). Avoid over-fertilizing trees, as this can negatively affect their growth and development over time. These trees also don't require heavy prunings, and have a natural pyramidal shape. Prunings should focus on maintaining this form instead of changing it. In late winter or early springtime, remove dead, broken, or diseased branches and lightly shape the canopy by removing crossing or poorly placed branches. Don't prune off too much foliage at any one time, as this can damage the tree and open it up to attacks from pests and disease.
Propagation
Torreya can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Torreya tree, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Torreya by Cutting
Propagating Torreya by Seed
Propagating Torreya by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Scrape a 1/2 inch long and 1/4 inch wide section of bark off of the bottom of the cutting. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot so that about half of the height of the cutting is under the soil surface. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Torreya by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. Seeds are contained inside of the green fruits produced by trees, which are typically ready for harvesting in late fall in most climates. Remove fruits from the tree, or pick them up off of the ground if they have started to drop already, and place them in a paper bag. Gather as many as you can and bring them indoors. Place the bag in a cool, dark, dry area until ready to work with them. Take them out of the bag once ready to work with them, and cut them open to remove the seed inside.
- Seeds will need to be cold-stratified; to do so, place them in a plastic bag or other sealable container filled with moistened peat moss or sand. Place the container in the refrigerator and leave it for about two to three months' time. Remove the seeds and then take them out to work with them.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Problems and Pests
Torreya trees are not known to have major pest or disease concerns. For information about commonly encountered landscape pests and diseases, visit the following pages:
Gallery
Videos
Learn about these endangered trees.
|
A guide to these coniferous trees.
|
Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 635, Torreya californica
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!