An attractive pyramidal garden or patio tree with dense, upright branching and narrow, leathery foliage that takes to shearing well. A versatile, slow growing, and low maintenance evergreen. An effective accent, screen or clipped hedge. Well-suited to large containers or tubs, and for formal topiary. This upright, evergreen oval shrub or small tree has needlelike, flat dark green leaves. Its compact, lustrous foliage has a growth habit of 15-20 feet tall. Extremely versatile, this plant is used as a screen, accent, hedge, topiary, and garden or patio tree. This low-maintenance evergreen needs a regular water schedule to ensure the growth of a mature root system. After the mature root system is established, watering is needed occasionally, except during a drought, watering is needed regularly. Pruning is not required. Shear annually to maintain desired shape. Mulch to prevent loss of moisture, deter weeds and moderate winter temperatures. Commonly referred to as Buddhist pine, yew podocarpus and Japanese yew, Podocarpus macrophyllus is a handsome and versatile addition to any warm weather landscape. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10, this undemanding, slow-growing tree or shrub serves as a specimen, sheared hedge or espalier, and snuggles in nicely wherever an attractive, slender plant might be needed. Where winter hardy, grow as large shrub or screen. Also effective as a specimen or lawn tree. Clip as a hedge. Foundations. Where not winter hardy, it may be grown in containers that must be overwintered in greenhouses or brightly lit corners of the home. Tolerance of low light conditions enables use as a house plant. Plants are sometimes seen growing in low light situations or under sky lights in shopping malls.
