Dwarf Evergreen Privacy Shrub with Soft Foliage

The Podocarpus Pringles dwarf hedge is a great landscape option if you are looking for a fantastic green shrub that stays small and compact and offers dark green foliage year round.

This dwarf evergreen shrub is a member of the japanese yew family and native to the mountainous areas of China and Japan. Commonly called Buddhist pine or yew pine, it is a smaller dwarf form of its larger podocarpus macrophyllus cousin. It’s a great choice for mass plantings or foundation plantings, as shrub borders, lining a fence or driveway, or as a formal or informal hedge. You can even grow it into a bonsai tree! The Podocarpus plant can be pruned into any shape you desire.

The soft textured foliage of the Pringles dwarf Podocarpus yew will grace your landscape all year long with dark green colors. Pringles Podocarpus hedge produces small inconspicuous flowers in spring or summer followed by small purple berries in the fall. The fleshy fruit can attract wildlife such as birds. It has an upright and columnar growth habit and slender, needle-like leaves that are 4 inches long.

DWARF PODOCARPUS CARE

Pringles dwarf podocarpus shrub prefers full sun to partial shade and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions. It is not tolerant of wet soils. Moist, slightly acidic but well drained soils are best and the application of a slow release fertilizer in the early spring will encourage new growth. A layer of mulch at the soil level will help to retain moisture.

Water well the first year of planting to establish a strong root system. Once established, the hedge plant is drought tolerant. The Pringles dwarf yew endures pruning well but it is not necessary unless desired. This conifer looks elegant when pruned into a topiary or ornamental privacy screen. It is also salt tolerant and can be planted in coastal areas.

At full maturity, this plant stays dense with a mature height of 3-5 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide. The dwarf podocarpus growth rate is slow. Grows best in the southern United States in USDA plant hardiness zones 8-11. For growers in colder climates, you are able to grow this as an excellent specimen plant in a pot or container. Simply move the podocarpus tree indoors or on a patio for the winter until the weather warms up.

Although relatively free of pests and diseases, some Podocarpus problems may include yellowing of the green leaves which indicates a deficiency of some sort such as Iron. If the leaves turn brown that might mean a more serious problem. The leaves and flowers of this plant are toxic to children and pets.

Shop the Pringles Dwarf Podocarpus for sale.

You can also check out our Evergreen Tree Grow Guide for more information on planting evergreens.

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