Light. Like other podocarpus, it grows best in full sun; in shade it grows more slowly with a looser shape.
Water. Water regularly until established; then it is highly drought tolerant. Avoid wet soil, which invites root rot.
Soil and feeding. It handles sand, clay, loam and alkaline or acidic soil, as long as it drains well. On sandy soil yellowing from magnesium shortage is common and easy to fix with Magnesium Sulfate.
Size. Usually 10–20 ft. Like the green form, it grows slowly, and an untrimmed plant can eventually become a tree 30–40 ft tall.
Pruning. Shape it as a hedge, topiary or small tree. It looks best trimmed with hand pruners rather than sheared with a hedge trimmer.
Problems to watch. Podocarpus aphids curl and stunt new spring growth and leave sooty mold; spray Insecticidal Soap. Scale and mites occur at times.
Good to know. Highly tolerant of salt spray. The seeds are toxic, so do not eat any part that looks like fruit.
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS ENH654 (ST495): Podocarpus macrophyllus, Podocarpus · UF/IFAS EDIS EP637: Key Plant, Key Pests: Southern Yew (Podocarpus macrophyllus)
