Podocarpus Upright Yew

Podocarpus macrophyllus

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-11 Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub

Height at Maturity: 10-20′

Width at Maturity: 5-10′

Spacing: 3-5′ for solid hedges; 10’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Upright

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: NA

Flower Size: NA

Flowering Period: NA

Flower Type: NA

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Deep Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color:

Sun Needs: Full Sun, Morning Sun With Afternoon Shade, Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist to Dry when established

Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.0 (Slightly Acid preferred)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Drought, Dry Soil, Heat, Heavy Shade, Insect

Description

The Podocarpus Upright Yew, Podocarpus macrophyllus, also known as the “Buddhist Pine,” is an upright growing shrub or tree with handsome, dark green, needle-like evergreen foliage that provides a unique texture and form in the landscape. Though it naturally grows 20 feet or more in height and 10 feet or more wide, the Upright Podocarpus responds very well to pruning and is often trimmed into a formal columnar shape as low as 6 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet wide. You can also train it into very interesting topiary forms such as pom pom.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 6 to 20 feet tall and 2 to 10 feet wide depending on pruning, the Upright Podocarpus has many uses in the landscape or in pots, planters and other containers. Left to grow natural it assumes an upright oval shape that is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or in privacy screen plantings. When trimmed occasionally to form a tight column it can be useful to fill those narrow spots in home foundation plantings. it can also be trimmed into very interesting topiary forms, such as pom pom or poodle tier. A fine addition to Asian theme gardens, formal and topiary gardens, and the Xeriscape (low water needs).

Suggested Spacing: 3 to 5 feet apart for solid hedges or privacy screens. The closer the spacing the quicker the fill.

Growing Preferences

The Upright Podocarpus Yew is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil and full sun or part shade. It does not like a poorly drained constantly soggy or wet soil and is very drought and heat tolerant when established. Plants can be trimmed occasionally for shaping purposes. Cease pruning two months prior to the average first-frost date in your area.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice for how to plant, prune, fertilize and water Podocarpus.

How To Plant & Care For Podocarpus Yews

Privacy Screen Planting Design & Planting Tips

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Questions? Contact Us

Ordered 2 yews. Well packaged and beautiful plants. Can’t beat free shipping either!
Both plants doing great and already showing new growth!——————————————–Hi Mark, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Podocarpus Macrophyllus Upright Yew. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

This plant shipped quickly. We were very happy to see how beautiful this shrub is. We are anxiously waiting to see it grow and to enjoy it’s beauty. —————————— WBG Reply: Hi Ms. McGrath – Thanks so much for your review of the Podocarpus Urpight Yew. It certainly is a handsome conifer that adds deep color and a unique texture and form to the landscape and we hope you enjoy it for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens