Podocarpus alpinus
| Podocarpus alpinus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 7' |
| Width: | 8' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Podocarpus alpinus (common name: tasmanian podocarp)
Propagation: The seed can be sown at any time of the year in a sandy soil in a warm greenhouse, though it is probably best sown as soon as it is ripe[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe terminal shoots, 5 - 10cm long, July/August in a frame[2].
Cultivation: Prefers a rich moist non-alkaline soil[3]. Plants are shade tolerant, at least when young[4].
Hardy to about -25°c, but plants grow best in humid areas with high rainfall and mild winters[4]. Plants often fruit freely in Britain[4].
A very slow growing plant, reaching 1.5 metres tall in 50 years at Kew Gardens[5]. It is a good plant for the rock garden[4].
Plants are very tolerant of pruning[4].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4].
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Range: Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria.
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is about 6mm x 5mm in size with a single seed[5][4]. Although we have seen no specific reports of edibility for this fruit, it is closely related to other species with edible fruits and is very unlikely to be poisonous - we have indeed eaten it on a number of occasions and it has a mucilaginous texture with a slightly sweet flavour[K].
Usage: Wood.
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Dioecious
Known Hazards: Superficially similar to Taxus species, but this plant is definitely not poisonous[4].
Links
References
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ Holliday, Ivan and Ron Hill. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller, 1974.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.