Podocarpus macrophyllus (Thunb.) Sweet

Yew Plum Pine

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Yew Plum Pine is an introduced evergreen shrub or tree in the Podocarpus family (Podocarpaceae). It is native to China and Japan. In Alabama it is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental and has been collected as a rare escape at scattered locations. Yew Plum Pine occurs in disturbed woodlands, in urban forests, and around old home sites where it may persist. It is an evergreen shrub or tree reaching 60 feet in height. The bark is smooth, gray-brown in color, peeling in thin flakes, and becoming shallowly furrowed with age. Leaves are evergreen, alternate or spiraled in arrangement, flattened in cross section, stiff in texture, with parallel sides tapering at each end. The midrib is raised on both side of the leaf. The leaves are fragrant when crushed and are dark green above and yellowish-green below. Pollen cones are spike-like in axillary clusters of 3-5 on very short peduncles. They have several triangular bracts at their base. Seed are produced on axillary, pedunculate structures that consist of a red or purplish fleshy receptacle and an ovule. The ovule is enclosed in an ovuliferous scale known as the epimatum. The epimatum becomes black with a white powdery coating when mature. Yew Plum Pine is a slow growing evergreen that is readily available from nurseries. It tolerates pruning well and is used as a screen or hedge, especially for areas near structures or powerlines where a right of way must be maintained. It tolerates dry and poor soils and full sun to shade.—A. Diamond.

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Not Native

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