Podocarpus gracilior
Common: Fern pine
Family: Podocarpaceae
Origin: Native to east Africa
Sunset Zone: 8, 9, 12, 13-24
Light: Sun or partial shade
Soil: Any soil
Water: Best with regular water
Among the cleanest and most pest free choices for street or lawn tree, patio or flower bed tree, espalier, hedge, big shrub, or container plant. Choice entryway plant or indoor/outdoor plant. Tropical effect. Formal hedge. Tree, often grown as espaliered vine, even as a hanging basket plant.
10-20 feet high, 6-12 feet wide. Grows up to 70 feet in natural habitat.
Habit varies with age of plant and method of propagation. Plants from cuttings or grafts have limber branches and are slow to make vertical growth. Plants grown from seedlings have leaves that are twice as long, are more upright in growth, and have more evenly spaced, less pendulous branches. Varies with age of plant and method of propagation. Plants from cuttings or grafts have short bluish or grayish leaves. Plants from seedlings have leaves more sparsely set, and dark glossy green. Sometimes troubled by chlorosis.