Yew pine

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; growth is generally denser in good light. Shelter from cold, drying winds.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Established plants tolerate short dry spells, but container plants need watering whenever the surface of the compost starts to dry.

Soil

Well-drained loam or sandy soil, preferably slightly acidic. Avoid waterlogged ground; strongly alkaline soil can cause yellow leaves.

Height

30-50 ft (9-15 m) if left unpruned; readily maintained much smaller

Spread

15-25 ft (4.5-7.5 m) if left unpruned

Foliage

Evergreen. Leathery, narrow, strap-shaped leaves, usually 2-5 in (5-13 cm) long, with a prominent central vein. New growth is lighter green before darkening.

Growth

Slow to moderate, depending on warmth, moisture and growing conditions.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   8 ft (2.4 m)

3. After 2 years

   9 ft (2.8 m)

4. After 3 years

   10 ft (3.2 m)

5. After 5 years

   13 ft (3.9 m)

About 26 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply through the first two growing seasons, letting the soil drain between waterings.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; avoid heavy feeding.
• Use a container with drainage holes and a free-draining potting mix; never leave it standing in water.
• Protect young plants from hard frost, and move containers under cover where winters exceed its hardiness.

Pruning. Prune in late spring or early summer, after the main risk of frost, to shorten shoots or remove unwanted branches. For hedges, clip lightly during active growth, keeping the base wider than the top; avoid late-season pruning in frost-prone areas.

Spring

Plant once severe frost has passed, water thoroughly and mulch the root area.

Late spring

Remove frost-damaged shoots once new growth shows which wood is alive.

Early summer

Shape hedges and topiary, or selectively shorten branches on specimen plants.

Summer

Check soil moisture during dry weather, especially for new plants and containers.

Autumn

Stop clipping in frost-prone gardens so new shoots can harden before winter.

Winter

Protect container roots from freezing and check that pots and planting sites drain freely.

• Clip into a tall evergreen hedge to screen neighbouring buildings or frame a courtyard.
• Train as a narrow, upright specimen beside an entrance, allowing enough room for its eventual spread.
• Use as a dark green backdrop for camellias, hydrangeas and shade-tolerant foliage plants.
• Grow in a large container as restrained topiary for a sheltered terrace.
• Prune selectively into cloud-like layers for a Japanese-inspired garden.

Garden styles it suits: Architectural minimal, Formal, Japanese, Modern courtyard, Topiary garden and Green on green.

Plant it with: Camellia, Japanese maple, Cast iron plant, Lilyturf, Japanese forest grass and Oakleaf hydrangea.

Wildlife: Female plants can produce seeds above fleshy, reddish-purple stalks when a male plant is nearby. Birds may eat these fleshy structures, and dense foliage provides cover and nesting shelter.

• Root rot in poorly drained soil: correct drainage and reduce watering; badly affected plants may need replacing.
• Scale insects and associated sooty mould: inspect stems and leaf undersides, prune heavily infested shoots and use a labelled horticultural oil where needed.
• Yellow leaves in alkaline soil: check soil pH and drainage before feeding; use chelated iron suitable for your soil if iron deficiency is confirmed.
• Frost scorch and shoot dieback: choose a sheltered position, protect young plants and wait until spring growth begins before pruning damaged wood.

Treat the foliage and especially the seeds as toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses. Swallowing them can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort; seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion. Keep seeds and fallen reproductive structures away from children and animals. Despite its common names, this is not a true yew (Taxus).

• English yew (Taxus baccata)

  English yew has much shorter needles, usually arranged in two flat ranks, and seeds partly enclosed in red, cup-shaped arils. Yew pine has longer, broader leaves and seeds sitting above fleshy stalks.

• African fern pine (Afrocarpus gracilior)

  African fern pine usually has finer, narrower, softer-looking foliage and a more airy crown. Its leaves lack the strongly raised central vein typical of yew pine.

• Plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia)

  Plum yew has needles arranged in conspicuously flat ranks, with two pale bands beneath, and plum-like seeds. Yew pine leaves are more strap-shaped and arranged spirally around the shoots.

Podocarpus comes from Greek words meaning 'foot' and 'fruit', referring to the stalked seed, while macrophyllus means 'large-leaved'.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer, using a free-draining medium and gentle bottom heat if available; rooting can be slow. Fresh seed is another option, but seedlings vary and may take months to germinate.

Accepted botanical name

Podocarpus macrophyllus

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states and Puerto Rico.

Native range

China South-Central, China Southeast, Japan, Myanmar and Taiwan.

Measured

Soil pH 5.5 to 7. Average height 914 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.