Podocarpus

A slow growing, evergreen shrub with soft, shiny, dark green, needle like foliage. Best planted in mass to function as a dense sheared hedge or tall screen. Takes to shearing well and is often utilized for topiaries.

Potted plants are often grown indoors in brightly lit rooms, such as an office. Plant directly into the ground in USDA zones 7-9, otherwise, either grow in a container and move to a sunny, frost free location to overwinter, or simply replace it the following spring with a whole new plant.

• Birds are attracted to the inedible fruit

• Lustrous dark green foliage all year long

• Undemanding slow growing shrub, which if left untrimmed, can grow 15 ft. tall to 30 ft. tall and 10 ft. W to 20 ft. W

• Thrives in full sun to part shade and grows best in organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soil

• Performs best in USDA plant zones 7-9

• To accommodate mature size, space about 60 in. away from other plants or structures, for hedges, space 48 in. on center or closer for faster coverage

 

	Advantages: Easy To Grow Low Maintenance Drought tolerant Good For Containers Great as a dense sheared hedge or tall screen.
	Grow Best:     Landscape
	Ideal position: Full to Part sun 3 to 6 hours morning sun best
	Water: Water regularly - weekly, or more often in extreme heat or containers.
	Healthy Temperatures: Warm, tropical vibes of 65-90°F Grown indoors as a houseplant but can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-11
	Growth Outlook: Height : Max Height 4-10 ft Wide: Up To 46" Growth Rate: Slow Plant Spacing:  5' to 6' apart *Though you can trim to stay about 5 or 6 feet tall, it can be allowed to grow much larger.
	Pet Friendly - NO Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses
	Qualifies For Free Delivery

Landscape uses:

• Hedge

• Privacy screen

• Shade around a patio or deck

• Along a fence

• Accent

• By a walk or driveway

• Small tree

• Corner-of-the-house shrub

• Under tall palms or pine trees

• Container plant for pool, patio or deck

• Backdrop for smaller plants

• Single yard specimen

Plant specs

This is a moderate grower you can keep 5 to 7 feet or let it get larger - quite a bit, in fact, since the plant can grow as much as 40 feet tall.

It's evergreen, salt-tolerant, and cold tolerant, so it does well in any area of South Florida.

Sun or shade is just fine, though in shade these plants will grow more slowly. However, the color will look deeper and richer in a shadier spot than in a sunny one.

Tiny spring flowers are followed by purple berries (on female plants) and are edible for people and attractive to birds.

Plant care

Add top soil or organic peat moss and composted cow manure to the hole when you plant.

Trimming can be done frequently or not - depending on the look you want. The plant can look somewhat sparse and spindly when young, so cut it back in spring, if you do nothing else.

Hand pruners (rather than an electric trimmer) do a better job to shape and yet leave enough foliage after a trim to keep the shrub's good looks intact. Once mature, though, you can use hedge trimmers if you want a more manicured look.

Though this plant is drought-tolerant once established, it's best to water on a regular basis with time between waterings for the plant to dry out a bit.

Fertilize 3 times a year - in spring, summer, and autumn - with a top quality granular fertilizer. 

Plant spacing

Place these shrubs 3 feet apart. Come away from the house 2-1/2 or 3 feet.

Along a walk or driveway, come in 4 to 5 feet to allow for mature size.

This plant will work in a large container.