Order your Truffle inoculated trees now!
Litherland's Truffles is pleased to offer for sale several options of Truffle inoculated trees from our nursery in Hawke's Bay
Our trees have all been inoculated with the 'Perigord' Black Truffle spores - a highly prized commercial value here and overseas, currently commanding prices of $2,500 - $3,500 per kg retail here in New Zealand! In order to ensure our trees produce the most sought-after truffles, we carry out DNA testing on our spores to confirm that we are always using the correct species, and avoid any other truffle species contaminants of a lower value.
All tree inoculum is PCR tested for mating type T1 & T2 tested, also put under a compounding & stereo microscope to check Mycorhizae on the roots.
Due to their high demand both locally and overseas, these Truffles are sought after, both here and around the world, with future potential to export in other countries in their off season, which will command a high price. These Truffles are harvested over our Winter period.
Trees with the Perigord Black Truffle (tuber melanosporum) grow best in high alkaline soil, so here in New Zealand with generally acidic soils, lime can be added to raise the pH to the optimum level of 7.5 for these particular trees. Other truffle producing trees require a slightly higher pH of 7.9 at the optimum level, however there has been cases where truffles are produced using Cork Oak on low pH soil, making it the best option for truffle production in New Zealand!
Purchase and Pre-order online
Final pricing including freight will be emailed to you, along with our bank account number for online payment. Prices listed are exclusive of GST. Numbers subject to available quantity, minimum order 5 trees).
Large orders for inoculated Cork Oak & Holm Trees can be pre-ordered for 2027 release date, and orders must be placed prior to Spring 2026.
30% non-refundable deposit required to secure Pre-sale orders
Truffle spore inoculation process
To achieve successful inoculation, our trees undergo a precise introduction of the 'Perigord' Black Truffle spores. Once DNA is checked to ensure purity, the spores are then combined with one of several different types of beneficial bacteria into the tree roots of the young trees in our nursery, along with Pre Sterilisation process, and monitored closely. We also add additional specific ingredients to our mix to ensure optimal results.
Quercus suber
Description:
Common name is Cork Oak, it is a medium sized evergreen Oak tree. It’s shape when mature resembles a giant Broccoli if left to grow naturally. A very hardy, useful, multi-purpose tree.
It can tolerate: heat, full sun, droughts, semi-shade.
Prefers: free draining soil, however can grow in some clay, prefers protection when young, once established can handle the windier areas.
- Emission Trading Scheme Compatible (while still being able to graze the land on farm)!
- Erosion Control Scheme Compatible (working with local councils)!
Spore Traps
Spore packs in 1 Ltr Mix per tree - each mix contains over 20 different ingredients for promotion of Truffle production, each pack contains at least 10 Grams of Truffle.
Annual application - 1 pack will do 2 trees, apply to one side of the tree,. E.g. 2 Spore trap Holes on one side for individual trees x 2, or 1 trench-line at root tips on one side for hedgerows per tree, then alternate each side annually until production.
Biennial Application - Add to both sides of the tree, direct drilling/trenching Hedgerows, or 4 x spore traps per tree, at drip line.
(Limited to tree purchsaer’s based on numbers of trees previously purchased from us recommend adding spores around your trees after year 2, then annually or bi-annually to encourage Truffle Production.)
Please note: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADD THIS TO TREES THAT HAVEN’T BEEN PROPERLY INOCULATED, OR IT WILL NOT WORK, AS COMPETING FUNGI WILL HAVE ALREADY OUT-COMPETED THAT TREE FOR FUNGAL HOSTING
We want to see your trees succeed as much as you do!
FINAL INOCULUM SPORE ORDER DATE 31ST AUGUST (SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY).
For Spring Application, make sure they are well watered in or timed with Rainfall.
Sheep, Cattle and Deer Guards
Ensure your Cork Oak saplings and Truffle futures are well protected from livestock with purpose built guards. Sheep Guards are available to order using the form below. We recommend the Cattle and Deer Guards from Tree Guards to compliment the Sheep Guards that we have in stock.
Cork Tree Uses: The Cork Tree is a real star, and some of its multiple uses you may be familiar with; the bark is used for flooring, insulation (including sound insulation), wine bottle stoppers, Cricket balls and Badminton shuttlecocks, fishing rods and surfboards. It has also been used in Aero-space crafts, and in the fashion industry for clothing and shoes.
This amazing tree is adaptable to temperature fluctuations between -9DegC to +40DegC, and the trunk of the tree itself is drought tolerant and fire-resistant due to its layer of moist suberin between the bark layer and its heartwood. They have good root structure for holding erosion prone land together once established.
Cork trees are harvested for their bark, the first harvest is usually about 25 years after planting, then additionally every 10 years for up to 200 years+, some trees have been known to live up to 400+ years! It has the ability to lock up additional carbon after each Cork harvest! These trees serve as a legacy for future generations.
While the Truffle can be harvested on average from year seven, during its lifetime the Truffle is also beneficial to the tree, providing the tree with sugars. The acorn from these trees is unlike traditional Oaks, being low in tannin and sweet, which has the added benefit of producing additional stock fodder for farm animals in times of drought. Like the Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), Cork trees are also used for fattening pigs for Iberico Ham production in Spain, which commands a high value due to the quality of the ham. The Cork tree produces a clear, sweet, dark honey. Trees are also used for Carbon Offset projects under the ETS scheme, and although they are not native to New Zealand, they are great for attracting Native bird life to the canopy during acorn masting.
The Cork Oak is used a lot in both Spain and Portugal, where there is an established Cork Oak industry, and due to cork's sustainability, there is a trend of wine producers reverting back to Cork in their wine bottling process. Given the well-known benefits of the Cork Oak, and its multiplicity of uses, we are pleased to be a provider of this exceptional tree. We are proud to be a part of New Zealand's early stages in setting up an industry to meet demand both for sustainable renewable products locally and overseas.
Trees currently in-stock
If you'd like to buy truffle trees in New Zealand - talk to us or place an order using the form below.
CURRENT STOCK AVAILABILITY Last updated June 2026
All Trees have been inoculated with Perigord Black Truffle current market price now is $3500-$4000 kg retail value
Quercus ilex (Holm Oak)
392 x 2024
- x 2025 -
SOLD OUT
Pre orders now available for 2026 trees for Winter 2027 delivery