Podocarpus

( poe - doe - KAR - puss )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs and trees needs full sun to partial shade and regular water to perform at its best. These plants, commonly called Plum Pines, Buddhist Pines or Yew Pines, are grown for their handsome foliage and adaptability as a garden plant; great as screening, trees, background plants, and for adding color to darker areas. If male plants and female plants are located near each other, the female plants will produce berries, otherwise, she will produce cones. These cones are bird favorites. Please note that if you are prone to allergies, it will be important to make sure that you purchase a female plant instead of a male one. The male plants produce a cytotoxic pollen in spring and early summer, and heavy exposure can cause symptoms similar to the negative side effects experienced by chemotherapy patients.

podocarpus Species and Varietals

The genus Podocarpus is a member of the family Podocarpaceae and includes between 97 and 107 species. The genus name is derived from the Greek words 'pous' (foot) and 'karpos' (fruit).The best growing zones for Podocarpus vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Podocarpus falcatus (Afrocarpus falcatus)
This species grows as a tree, and is best in zones 8, 9, 14-24 and H2. It is a slow grower native to South Africa.

​Podocarpus gracilor (Afrocarpus gracilor, Afrocarpus elongatus) (Fern Pine)
This species takes the form of a tree or espaliered vine, best in zones 8, 9, 13-24, H1 and H2. It is native to eastern Africa and grows 20-60 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide. Great as landscape trees, patio trees, and trees against buildings. Also makes a great screening shrub, hedge, or container plant. When grown from seed, plants have an upright habit and can be grown as trees, though if grown from cuttings, they have issues creating a strong trunk, and are better grown as shrubs. 'Icee Blue' is a great variety (and my personal favorite, as well) that has striking bluish silver foliage and reaches 25 feet tall and wide.

Podocarpus henkelii (Long-Leafed Yellowwood)
This species takes the form of a tree, growing well in zones 8, 9, 14-24, H1 and H2. It is native to eastern and southern Africa, and has slow growth to 30-50 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. Leaves are drooping, shiny green, and massed together. Great as a specimen plant; can be pruned hard but does not take well to shearing.

Podocarpus latifolius (Yellow Wood)
This tree grows well in zones 8, 9, 12-24, H! and H2 and is native to eastern and southern Africa. This is the quintessential Yellow Wood, which is an important timber tree in Africa.

Podocarpus macrophylius (Yew Pine)
This species can be grown as a shrub or tree, and is best in zones 4-9, 12-24, H1 and H2 and is native to eastern China and Japan. It has a narrow and upright habit, reaching 15-20 feet tall and 6-15 feet wide. Leaves are bright green. Great as a street or lawn tree, screen or large shrub. Difficult to espalier. Can easily be pruned or clipped as a hedge, and does well in large containers. Very heat tolerant species.

Podocarpus macrophylius maki (Podocarpus macrophylius 'Maki') (Shrubby Yew Pine)
This species is a slow grower that reaches 8-15 feet tall and just 2-4 feet wide. It has a dense, upright habit and is a great container or shrub plants.

Podocarpus nagi (Nagela nagi) (Asian Bayberry)
This tree is best in zones 8, 9, 14-24, H1 and H2 and is native to Japan. In its natural habitat, it reaches 80-90 feet tall, but in California tops out more around 15-20 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. Leaves are dark green and leathery but smooth, and hang off of pendulous branches. Great as a foliage pattern against walls, wood, or masonry backgrounds. Great as a container plant.

Podocarpus nivalis (Alpine Totara)
This shrub grows well in zones 4-9 and 14-17 and is native to New Zealand. It has a broad, low-growing habit and reaches 2-3 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide, with dark olive-green needle-like leaves. Great as a groundcover or in a large rock garden.

Podocarpus totara (Totara)
This species takes the form of a tree; grows best in zones 8, 9 and 14-24. It is native to New Zealand and reaches 100 feet tall there, though in California landscapes tops out more around 25-30 feet tall and 18-25 feet wide. Dense and narrow habit. Leaves are grey-green and pointed.

Caring for and pruning podocarpus shrubs

Plant your shrub in full sun to partial shade (leaves can be damaged in full sun, especially in late afternoon heat)  and provide with regular waterings, especially when the plants are young. Podocarpus needs well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Provide water when the top inch of soil feels dry. The ideal soil should be slightly acidic to slightly neutral, with a pH of between 4.5 and 7.5. Podocarpus grows well in most soils, but can develop chlorosis where soil is too alkaline, heavy or damp. Fertilize with a balanced, slow release fertilizer from spring through fall, and eliminate feedings during dormancy. Protect Podocarpus shrubs from strong winds, as this can damage foliage. Prune your Podocarpus as needed to remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches or foliage, and to maintain shape and size. These shrubs can be grown as specimens, trees, or as formal hedges.

Propagation

Podocarpus 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 shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Podocarpus by Cutting
  1. 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.
  2. 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 softwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. 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. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. 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 on your propagated Abutilon, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. 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 Podocarpus by Seed
  1. 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 plastic, sealable bag or container, sphagnum moss, 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. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. They are contained inside of fruits produced by female plants, and will only be successful in germinating if there is a male plant nearby, as well. If there is no male plant in your area, propagate your shrub via cuttings instead.
  3. Podocarpus seeds need a cold snap to germinate. Place your seeds in a plastic bag filled with moist sphagnum moss, and place that bag in the refrigerator. Leave it in there, adding moisture to the bag when it looks dry, for about two months. Then, remove the seeds and set them aside.
  4. 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 can take up to 6 months. 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.
  5. 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.
Podocarpus seeds are contained inside the fruits produced by female plants.​
Podocarpus seeds.

Problems and Pests

Although Podocarpus shrubs are generally free of pests and diseases, they can suffer from the following issues:
  • Scale Insects
  • Mealybugs
For more information about these issues, see the following links:
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Gallery

These shrubs and their soft-looking foliage can add interest to the walls of buildings or homes.
Use Podocarpus as a formal privacy hedge or screening.
Podocarpus trees provide beautiful greenery and shade.

Videos

All about Podocarpus shrubs.
How to grow and care for Podocarpus shrubs.

Resources

How to Grow a Podocarpus from Seed
How to Plant Podocarpus
How to Plant, Fertilize and Care for Podocarpus Yew Plants
Wikipedia: Podocarpus
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 520 - 521, Podocarpus
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!
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