Toromiro

Sophora toromiro

Rapa Nui's own tree, carved into sacred figures; gone from the island by 1960 and brought back from botanical gardens.

Type: small tree · native and wild plants
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 10 ft tall, 8 ft wide
Harvest: September to November
From: Rapa Nui; extinct in the wild, saved from seed
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.

Good for: fixing nitrogen in the soil, pollinators.

Native to: Hawaiʻi & Pacific Islands. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.

The story

Toromiro is a small tree found only on Rapa Nui, its hard wood carved into sacred figures and tools. The last wild tree died around 1960, but seeds collected in the 1950s survived in botanical gardens and have been used to bring it back to the island.

Planting

Full sun, drained volcanic or sandy soil; frost-free coast. Raise from seed that has been nicked and soaked; plant in a sheltered spot.

Growing

Water young plants and shelter them from strong wind. Growth is slow. Plants are rare and are mainly grown by botanical gardens and restoration projects.

Harvest and use

Not a food plant. Grown for conservation and its yellow flowers, and the wood was traditionally carved.

What to watch for

Rare; buy only from botanic gardens or registered growers.

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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home