Are Podocarpus trees messy
Robert Spencer
Published Mar 04, 2026
The inconspicuous flowers are followed by fleshy, purple, small, edible fruits (very good to eat) on female trees which are quite attractive to birds but not really messy on sidewalks or pavement.
What does a Podocarpus tree look like?
Podocarpus species are evergreen shrubs or trees, usually from 1 to 25 m (3 to 82 ft) tall, known to reach 40 m (130 ft) at times. The cones have two to five fused cone scales, which form a fleshy, berry-like, brightly coloured receptacle at maturity.
How tall does Podocarpus grow?
The Podocarpus yew pine, shrubby yew, or better yet, Podocarpus macrophyllus, is a large shrub to small tree. Plants can achieve 8 to 10 feet (2-3 m.) in height with an upright, slightly pyramidal form and finely textured, slender evergreen leaves that are very resistant to deer damage.
Is Podocarpus a tree or a shrub?
Description. The 105 species of Podocarpus are evergreen shrubs or trees that grow to mature heights of 3 to 80 feet (1 – 25 m) tall, rarely to 125 feet (40 m).How can you tell if a Podocarpus is male or female?
Trees are either male or female. Males have yellowish pollen-producing catkin-like cones and females bear the seeds.
Is Podocarpus fast growing?
From eastern Africa, this Podocarpus gracilior is a versatile, fast-growing plant popular with homeowners looking for good privacy screens, windbreakers and background plants for their landscape. … Podocarpus gracilior can be trimmed down to fit into tighter forms, or be left alone to reach heights of up to 40-feet.
How close can you plant Podocarpus?
Space the hole 25 to 35 feet away from other plants, buildings and stationary objects.
Where is Podocarpus native to?
Podocarpus macrophyllus, commonly called yew plum pine or Buddhist pine, is native to mountainous areas of China and Japan. It is an evergreen conifer that typically grows as a narrow-conical tree to 50′ tall or sometimes as a large shrub.Is Podocarpus toxic to dogs?
Toxicity to pets This plant, which is also called the Yew Pine, Southern Yew, or Podocarpus, can be poisonous when ingested. The fruits and leaves of this plant contain an unknown toxin that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea when consumed.
Where do Podocarpus grow best?Showing best growth and form in full sun, Podocarpus will grow more slowly and have a looser appearance when grown in shade. It will grow on the north side of a tall building with little or no direct sun. It will tolerate a wide variety of well-drained, acidic soils. Don’t plant on wet soils.
Article first time published onHow wide does a podocarpus grow?
Make sure the area for growing a Podocarpus hedge is large enough. Pine yew hedges can grow up to 8 ft. (2.4 m) tall with a wide spread. Plant Podocarpus macrophyllus as a hedge plant in zones 9 to 11.
Are Podocarpus drought tolerant?
The plant is tolerant of shade but intolerant of wet soils. This plant likes medium relative humidity and has a slow growth rate. This plant is salt tolerant, drought tolerant, and displays some tolerance to heat.
How do you make Podocarpus grow faster?
Podocarpus can go without bright or direct light for long stretches but will grow taller and faster under the bright light of the sun. Like any plant, they do need regular watering, though they can stand long periods with no water, especially if the soil is particularly dense.
Can you grow Podocarpus in container?
Podocarpus growing in pots appreciate a moist but well-drained soil. Constantly soggy soil can and often will cause root rot or other harmful plant diseases. Therefore, I suggest using a container that has a drainage hole(s) and a quality potting soil or potting mix, or a 50/50 combination thereof.
Is Podocarpus a good hedge?
Podocarpus can be used as a tree, but is widely used as a taller screening hedge. … Plant approximately 3′ apart for use as a hedge. Tolerates drought, deer, disease, seaside. Blooms are inconspicuous and foliage is dense making a nice green backdrop to any garden.
Can I top a Podocarpus tree?
My location is Encinitas, Ca. Answer from Pat: Yes, you can prune your fern pine (Podocarpus gracilior) hedge now to keep it flat. … Most non-flowering hedges can be pruned year round, but they will grow faster in warmer weather.
What is a fast growing hedge for Florida?
If you need a fast-growing, large, evergreen Arborvitae hedge, Green Giant is a perfect choice. It will take some work to maintain if you want to keep it as a medium-sized hedge, but one pruning per year will suffice for a large hedge. … Green Giant Arborvitae is a classic fast-growing hedge.
How do you make Podocarpus grow straight?
Among the top growth you will find a leaf exactly in the center that is a good candidate to become a trunk. Allow this leader to grow but pinch off side branches until the little trunk is about 18 inches high. Staking this trunk will help it grow straight.
How tall is a 25 gallon Podocarpus?
Just Big Stuff Nursery – 25 gallon Podocarpus – over 6 feet tall – and we have more than 1,000 of them at $75.00 each. | Facebook.
What is a weeping podocarpus?
Weeping Podocarpus or African Fern Pine is an evergreen woody bush plant. Young Weeping Podocarpus leaves are soft and are bright green in color while mature leaves are dark green in color. The plant is called Weeping Podocarpus because of its weeping branch tips. … Weeping Podocarpus can be your tough urban plant.
What is dwarf Podocarpus?
Dwarf Podocarpus is a thick shrub that can be used as a small hedge or that can be decoratively shaped. It is slow growing and therefore does not require a lot of maintenance.
Is Podocarpus pet friendly?
Yew pine (Podocarpus macrophylla), part of the Podocarpaceae family, are evergreen shrubs or trees that have needle-like leaves and pods. All parts of the tree can be toxic to dogs if ingested, with even small amounts leading to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, possibly causing dehydration in your dog.
How fast does Podocarpus maki grow?
The Maki Podocarpus is a unique upright evergreen bush reaching 6 to 8 feet in ten years, although it is easily trimmed to keep it smaller.
How fast does Podocarpus Gracilior grow?
Podocarpus gracilior, or fern pine, can reach 60′ in old age, but grows very slowly (less than 6″ per year). In fact they are often sold as basket or dish plants, and many are espaliered. So, to keep your plant small, prune periodically while it’s young.
Is Podocarpus good firewood?
Medium hardwoods and soft hardwoods, such as cottonwood alder, aspen, maple, podocarpus, olive, persimmon and pomegranate are widely planted residential trees and good fuel wood.
Can you eat Podocarpus Macrophyllus?
The plant and seed are toxic. The seed’s aril or “receptacle” is edible. That aril can ripen to red, blue or dark purple. The point is the fleshy aril pulp is edible raw or cooked.
How cold hardy is Podocarpus?
Plant in full to part sun or light shade and irrigate regularly to occasionally. Cold hardy to short duration temperatures down to 20°F to 25°F and useful in USDA Zones 9-11.
Should I stake Podocarpus?
Podocarpus gracilior has very limber branches in youth and needs staking to coax it into becoming an upright tree. You can allow all of the branches emerging from the roots to grow to produce a screening hedge, or you can cut away all but the strongest stem and train it into a trunk.
When should you trim Podocarpus?
Trim the green tips of the podocarpus to shape the tree or encourage fullness. Prune the outermost growth very lightly to create hedges. Act in July or August to experience a second flush of growth. Avoid shearing the branches of this tree in any season.
How often should I water my podocarpus?
While the tree tolerates drought, it should be watered once a week in hot weather. To determine the amount of water needed, measure the tree’s trunk at knee level. Apply 10 gallons of water for every inch of the trunk’s diameter.
Why are my podocarpus leaves turning brown?
They can suffer from root rot if the soil is kept too wet, though. This might be the case if you watered more often than once a week or if they are near a lawn or flower bed that is watered frequently. Symptoms of root rot are browning foliage.