Pterophylla sylvicola, known as tōwai or tawhero, is a medium-sized evergreen tree of the family Cunoniaceae native to northern New Zealand.

Juvenile leaves are thinner and have up to ten pairs of leaflets.

Its flowers are small and pink or white, occurring in 8–12 cm racemes.

Its fruits are 4–5 cm capsules,[2] which release many tiny seeds that are dispersed by wind.

[4] A closely related tree, kāmahi (P. racemosa), replaces tōwai south of latitude 37°S.