Podocarpus Podocarpus macrophyllus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- poh-doh-KAR-pus mak-roh-FY-lus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Japanese yew is a densely compact evergreen conifer shrub or narrow, conical tree that grows well in coastal NC and grows up to 6.5' tall, although the tree form of this plant can grow up to 50'. In colder regions, it can be used as a container plant to be brought in from the outdoors during the winter months. It adapts well to shearing so that it is sometimes used in topiary design. Its tolerance for low light allows for good growth in brightly lit rooms as a houseplant. You may see this plant in commercial buildings such as offices or shopping malls, growing under skylights. Where it is winter hardy, it can be grown as a large hedge or screen. The foliage is pleasantly fragrant when crushed.
Prefers rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained, fertile soils in full sun to part shade. 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. Although it is non-flowering, the pollen cones are yellowish and elongated, the seeds are light blue and fleshy, and the stalk enlarged and red. While these fleshy red arils are edible, children may be tempted to eat the round seeds which resemble fruits and are poisonous. This plant has no serious pest or disease problems and is resistant to deer.
This plant can also be grown as a specimen and background plant.
Quick ID Hints:
- Densely compact shrub with alternate, spiral, linear leaves
- Midrib of flattened leaves raised on both sides
- Evergreen gymnosperm
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Indoor plants may develop scale. Chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves) occurs in alkaline soils.
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. Children may eat the fleshy seeds that resemble fruits.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. maki
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. maki
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Podocarpus
- Species:
- macrophyllus
- Family:
- Podocarpaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern China to Northern Myanmar, Taiwan, Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to the fruit
- Edibility:
- Fruits may be eaten out of hand or added to pies, cakes, and jellies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Good Cut
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Female cones have 1-2 seeds borne on top of a swollen, fleshy aril. The aril is purplish and less than an inch in diameter. Male cones are clustered in yellowish-green strobili. Aril's are edible but seeds are poisonous.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Description:
- Non-flowering; pollen cones yellowish and elongated
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, congested and spirally arranged, broad linear-lanceolate, flattened, bluntly acute, yew-like, leathery, narrow, dark green in color and with a lighter midrib that is distinct on both surfaces. Leaves are arranged in dense spirals. They are fragrant when bruised.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- English Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Salt
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
