Podocarpus 'Chocolate Box' (f)
podocarp 'Chocolate Box'
A dwarf, rounded, evergreen bushy shrub or conifer, to around 45cm in height, with dark, chocolate-brown foliage in winter, dark, red-green for the remainder of the year. A very versatile shrub suitable for low hedging, ground cover, edging borders or for adding colour and texture to alpine, herbaceous or conifer displays

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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Red | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green Red | |||
| Autumn | Green Red | |||
| Winter | Brown |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Podocarpaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Podocarpus can be evergreen shrubs or trees, with spirally arranged, but usually 2-ranked, leaves which may be linear or narrowly lanceolate; plum-shaped fleshy fruits are produced only where male and female trees grow together
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained soil. Protect from cool, drying winds
Propagation
Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Low Maintenance
- Flower borders and beds
- Garden edging
- Hedging and screens
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
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