Podocarpus lawrencei 'Blue Gem' (f)

RHS Plant Profile

mountain plum pine 'Blue Gem'

RHS

Synonyms

Podocarpus alpinus 'Bluey'
Podocarpus lawrencei alpinus 'Bluey'
Podocarpus lawrencei 'Bluey'

Shrubs Conifers

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A dwarf, spreading evergreen conifer, grown as a shrub. It has short flat needles of a blue-green colour and can be pruned to a low hedge or topiary. This is a female variety so, if a male is nearby, silver-blue fruits may develop.

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Podocarpaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
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 any well-drained soil in good light.

Propagation

Propagate from seed (tree/shrub or from semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Banks and slopes
Hedging and screens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free