Podocarpus Maki

The Podocarpus Maki is Perfect for Elegant Evergreen Privacy

Dense Foliage, Low Maintenance, and Year-Round Beauty

The Podocarpus Maki, also known as Japanese Yew or Buddhist Pine, is a versatile evergreen shrub prized for its dense, upright growth and refined appearance. Native to Asia, this compact variety is often chosen for privacy screens, hedges, and foundation plantings thanks to its ability to form neat, columnar shapes with minimal pruning. Its lush, dark green foliage offers an elegant backdrop to any landscape, while its adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions makes it a reliable and low-maintenance choice for homeowners and landscapers alike.

Visual Appeal & Landscape Uses

Podocarpus Maki stands out for its slender, pointed, glossy green leaves that create a soft, textured look year-round. Its naturally dense growth habit makes it perfect for hedges, borders, or foundation accents, while its upright form allows it to serve as a vertical focal point in garden designs. When planted in rows, it quickly forms a living privacy screen or windbreak, adding both beauty and function to outdoor spaces.

Care & Growing Features

This hardy shrub thrives in USDA Zones 7–11 and is remarkably adaptable. It performs best in full sun to partial shade and tolerates a variety of soil types as long as they are well-draining. Once established, Podocarpus Maki is drought-tolerant and requires little maintenance beyond occasional pruning to shape or size. Growing to about 8–10 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide, it naturally maintains a tidy, narrow form, making it ideal for smaller yards or structured landscapes. Its resistance to pests, diseases, and air pollution makes it a favorite in urban and suburban environments.

What Makes Podocarpus Maki Unique

Unlike many hedge plants that demand constant upkeep, the Podocarpus Maki offers a low-maintenance alternative with exceptional durability. Its elegant, upright form provides a more refined look than traditional hedges like boxwood or holly. It is also highly versatile, thriving in containers, clipped topiary forms, or as a natural privacy wall. With its combination of resilience, longevity, and beauty, this plant is a superior choice for both residential and commercial landscapes.

Why Buy from Perfect Plants?

At Perfect Plants, we’ve been cultivating quality trees and shrubs on our family-run Florida farm since 1980. Every Podocarpus Maki is carefully grown by plant experts, inspected for health and vigor, and shipped straight to your doorstep. By choosing us, you’re investing in a plant that’s not only healthy and ready to thrive but also backed by decades of horticultural knowledge and customer care.

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