Prumnopitys andina

RHS Plant Profile
plum-fruited yew

Other common names

Chilean yew, lleuque, plum fir, plum yew

Synonyms

Prumnopitys spicatus
Prumnopitys elegans
Podocarpus andinus

Shrubs Trees

An evergreen tree, often multi-stemmed and shrubby when young, with smooth grey bark and yew-like, blue-green foliage. Cream male cones are produced in sprays of five to twenty at various times of year. Green fruit, resembling small plums, ripen to purplish-brown

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
more than 50 years
Max Spread
4-8 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Podocarpaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Prumnopitys are upright, evergreen trees with yew-like foliage. Male and female cones are produced at various times of year, followed by fruit that look like small, upright plums but only have a thin fleshy layer round the seed
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Chile to Argentina

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, with shelter from cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers outdoors in spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • Low Maintenance
  • Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1; clip hedges in early or midsummer

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free