How to sow Podocarpus macrophyllus? Introduction to common varieties

Podocarpus macrophyllus, also known as Luohanshan and Tushan, belongs to the genus Podocarpus in the family Podocarpaceae. It is evergreen year-round, vigorous and elegant, and is a relatively precious landscaping tree species. What is magical and interesting about Podocarpus macrophyllus is that in summer, in the leaf axils of female trees, seed-like structures resembling little arhats are produced. The “bald head” part on top of the seed is a lateral ovule, and the seed receptacle below resembles the body of an arhat. The slightly raised area at the seed receptacle also looks very much like an arhat’s “hands pressed together in prayer.” After the seeds mature, the color of the seed receptacle changes from green to yellow, from yellow to red, and finally to purplish brown, as if it were an arhat draped in robes of various colors, hence the name “Luohan Pine.”

Sowing methods for Podocarpus macrophyllus:Sow immediately after collecting seeds in August, and they sprout after about 10 days; cuttings: can be done in both spring and autumn. In spring, select dormant branches; in autumn, select semi-lignified young branches, 12-15 cm, and insert them into a seedbed made of half sand and half soil. They root after about 50-60 days.

Podocarpus macrophyllus has nearly 100 varieties. Currently common varieties include Lanyu Podocarpus, Japanese Podocarpus, Queshe Podocarpus, Haidao Podocarpus, Hainan Podocarpus, Dali Podocarpus, short-leaf Podocarpus, rice-leaf Podocarpus, long-leaf Podocarpus, large-leaf Podocarpus, etc. Because Podocarpus macrophyllus has an ancient and elegant tree form and a peculiar combination of seed and seed stalk, it is much loved. It is often planted in temples and residential courtyards in the south. It can be planted in pairs in front of the gate, as a single specimen in the central courtyard, or in a corner by a wall together with rockery and lake stones. Variegated-leaf Podocarpus can be planted in flower platforms, and can also be used in flower beds or potted and displayed indoors for appreciation. Small-leaf Podocarpus can also be planted as a courtyard hedge.

Common varieties of Podocarpus macrophyllus:

 1. Japanese Podocarpus: bark dark gray, splitting in scale-like plates; branches and leaves dense; leaves arranged spirally, linear-lanceolate, 7-10 cm long, 5-8 mm wide, apex gradually pointed or bluntly pointed, base wedge-shaped, with a short stalk, midrib distinctly raised on both sides. Male cones spike-like, often 3-5 clustered in leaf axils; female cones solitary in leaf axils, stalked. Seeds ovate, less than 1 cm in diameter, purple or purplish red when mature, covered with a white bloom, borne on a thick fleshy seed receptacle; seed receptacle red or purplish red, stalked

2. Queshe Podocarpus: leaves about 1.8-2 cm long and about 0.4 cm wide; spring growth tips are bluntly ovate, leaf tips not pointed, with the central vein protruding, like a bird’s tongue, with a fleshy feel. Common types include Zhejiang Queshe and Nantong Queshe, and Nantong Queshe is generally regarded as the authentic one. Its characteristic is that the small leaves of the spring buds curl inward, resembling a chrysanthemum, commonly known as “forming a chrysanthemum heart,” while it does not have this characteristic in summer and autumn. If the summer and autumn shoots are pinched off after autumn each year, the branches and leaves appear dense, the leaves stand upright, and the internodes are short, making it very beautiful and neat. Potted old plants often form strange roots, which are very attractive when lifted; the cross-section of the old trunk of many years in pots is often not round, which is also one of its characteristics. The characteristic of Zhejiang Queshe is that the leaves are more spreading, the tips are more pointed, and the texture is thinner. Queshe Podocarpus is an excellent tree species that is precious, easy to shape, and easy to manage

3. Haidao Podocarpus: distributed in the coastal island areas of Guangdong and Guangxi, generally called Haidao Pine. Because it grows in primitive barren island soil and endures strong typhoons, rainstorms, and other harsh climates all year round, it does not grow very tall, and some grow creeping on the ground, very short. Although it cannot grow tall, its tree age is quite old, with some over a hundred years and even several hundred years old. Podocarpus growing on the northwest side of the islands is the most valuable, because they experience more and stronger storms than Podocarpus growing in other directions. Having gone through many vicissitudes and still growing, they therefore have greater vitality, and their forms are also more ornamental

4. Hainan Podocarpus: evergreen tree, up to 16 m tall, 60 cm DBH; bark brownish gray or grayish white, splitting in scales. Leaves arranged spirally, radially spreading, closely arranged at the upper end of branchlets, thickly leathery, linear-lanceolate or linear, slightly curved, 4-10.5 cm long, 5-10 mm wide, apex rounded or bluntly pointed, base narrowed into a short stalk, midrib raised on both sides, leaf surface green and glossy, lower surface light green with several broad stomatal bands. Hainan Podocarpus is endemic to Hainan and is a vulnerable species. Due to many years of development and utilization, it is currently distributed only in small amounts in undeveloped natural forests in the south, and resources are very scarce.

5. Dali Podocarpus: native to Diancang Mountain in Dali, Yunnan. It is a rare plant unique to Dali, Yunnan, a key protected tree species in Yunnan Province, and has been included in the national list of critically endangered species. There are currently eight registered transplanted adult trees. Dali Podocarpus is a rare variant with short and broad leaves; leaves 4-9 cm long and 6-12 mm wide, thick in texture, dark green. New leaves vary in length, and occasionally the leaf margins are irregularly twisted and extended. It has extremely high ornamental and scientific research value.

6. Short-leaf Podocarpus: also known as small-leaf Podocarpus. It is an evergreen coniferous small tree variety of Podocarpus macrophyllus, often shrub-like. The old trunk is dark brown to blackish brown, with the outer bark splitting longitudinally in strips and falling off in flakes; branch tips are relatively short and soft, grayish green, with poor branching ability. Leaves are arranged spirally in clusters; simple leaves are short-strap-shaped lanceolate, apex bluntly pointed, base rounded or wedge-shaped, leathery, 2-2.5 cm long, 0.8-1 cm wide, deep green, with an obvious midrib and a very short petiole. Short-leaf Podocarpus has an elegant tree posture, is lush and graceful, vigorous and upright, and evergreen year-round. It is suitable both for ground planting and for potting. It is an excellent ornamental tree species for home flower growing and also a high-quality material for making bonsai.

7. Rice-leaf Podocarpus: an evergreen small tree, family Podocarpaceae. The leaves are very short and small, shaped like chrysanthemum petals, and the branches mostly grow upright. It likes warm, humid, semi-shaded environments, and can also grow in sunny environments. It has strong adaptability and can grow well even under strong sunlight. It has relatively strong resistance to pests and diseases, relatively weak cold tolerance, and likes to grow in loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil. Rice-leaf Podocarpus has a beautiful and lush tree posture, graceful bearing, is evergreen year-round, and requires extensive management. It is an excellent ornamental tree species in home flower growing, and is often planted in southern courtyards. Through artistic shaping, it is often made into bonsai of various styles, suitable for decorating halls, meeting rooms, and similar environments. It is also suitable for paired planting in front of the gate, as a single specimen in the central courtyard, or planted in a corner by a wall together with rockery and lake stones. Rice-leaf Podocarpus can also be made into miniature bonsai, which can be given to relatives and friends and can also be exported

8. Long-leaf Podocarpus: an extremely rare and endangered plant in the world. Its original name is Bairiqing. It is an evergreen tree in the family Podocarpaceae and is famous worldwide for its slender and beautiful leaves, which flutter in the wind and are quite spectacular. Its tree height can reach 30 m and DBH 60 cm. The seeds contain 30% oil; the pressed oil is an edible vegetable oil and can also be used for industrial production.

9. Large-leaf Podocarpus: native to southwestern China, Japan, and other places. It is a perennial evergreen tree, about 8-13 m tall. Bark grayish white, longitudinally fissured. Leaves narrowly lanceolate or linear, alternate on branches, 12-15 cm long and 1.8-2 cm wide. Dioecious; upright male flower spikes densely borne in leaf axils, in catkins; female flowers spherical, with a fleshy receptacle. Ovate seeds are borne on top of a thick fleshy red seed receptacle, with a white bloom on the surface. At present, it is mainly used to cultivate large landscaping seedlings and is widely planted in gardens and flower beds

10. Lanyu Podocarpus: native to Lanyu, Taiwan, China. Evergreen small tree, 2-5 m tall. Leaves clustered at branch tips; simple leaves elliptical-linear, apex blunt or rounded, leaves slightly recurved, both surfaces smooth, thickly leathery, deep green and glossy; midrib obvious, petiole absent. Flowers axillary, cylindrical, sessile; small flowers yellow-green; flowering period March-May. Drupe-like seeds, elliptical, dark blue when mature; seed receptacle fleshy, red when mature; the seed receptacle bearing the seed looks like an arhat draped in a kasaya, hence the name Podocarpus. Lanyu Podocarpus likes high temperature, humidity, and a sunny environment. It has good salt tolerance and resistance to strong winds, but poor shade tolerance. It can be used in coastal windbreak forest belts, hedges, courtyard beautification, bonsai, etc.

Introduction to Podocarpus varieties, propagation methods of Podocarpus, and pest and disease control

I. Introduction to Podocarpus varieties:

There are about 100 species in the same genus, and commonly cultivated ones include:

1. Main cultivated species and varieties: narrow-leaf Podocarpus, leaves 5-9 cm long, 0.3-0.6 cm wide, leaf apex gradually narrowed into a long tip, leaf base wedge-shaped; short-leaf Podocarpus, evergreen small tree or shrub-like, leaves short and dense, 2-7 cm long, about 0.5 cm wide; very small-leaf Podocarpus, leaves especially short and small, less than 3.5 cm long; columnar-crown Podocarpus, leaves small, apex blunt or rounded; variegated-leaf Podocarpus, with white markings on the leaves.

2. Small-leaf Podocarpus: branches and leaves densely grown, leaves narrowly elliptical, apex slightly blunt.

3. Taiwan Podocarpus: leaves strip-shaped lanceolate, apex bluntly pointed or sharply pointed.

4. Hainan Podocarpus: leaves strip-shaped lanceolate. The upper part gradually narrows.

II. Propagation methods of Podocarpus:

It can be propagated by sowing and cuttings. For sowing propagation, drill sowing is generally carried out in spring and autumn, and the seed germination rate is as high as 50%-90%.

However, seedlings grow slowly. For cutting propagation, it is best done during the rainy season, and after cutting, shade should be provided; rooting is very easy. In addition, variegated-leaf Podocarpus can also be propagated by cleft grafting.

III. Pest and disease control of Podocarpus:

Leaf spot disease and sooty mold disease are common. For leaf spot disease, spray 50% carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 600-800 times dilution for control; for sooty mold disease, wash with soapy water or clean water. Common insect pests include bagworms, scale insects, white wax insects, etc., which can be killed by spraying 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution or 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution.

That is all the editor has to share with you about the introduction to Podocarpus. I hope it is useful to you!

Cultivation methods of Podocarpus macrophyllus, how to grow Podocarpus macrophyllus?

Podocarpus macrophyllus is also called Tushan. It belongs to the family Podocarpaceae and the genus Podocarpus, and Podocarpus macrophyllus is also an evergreen tree. Its flowering period is from April to May, and its fruiting period is from August to September. This plant is a subtropical species and originally grew in Yunnan. Through later continuous development, Podocarpus macrophyllus has become one of the ornamental plants in gardens. So, what is Podocarpus macrophyllus like? What are its cultivation methods? Let’s take a look!

Introduction to Podocarpus macrophyllus

Podocarpus macrophyllus is one of the relatively common plants in gardens and is also one of the internationally Class II protected plants. The plant can reach a maximum height of 18 m, with leaves arranged in a spiral shape, and it also has male and female plants. The flowering period is from April to May, and the fruiting period is from August to September. The flowers of Podocarpus macrophyllus are also edible and have a faint sweetness. The specifically cultivated Podocarpus macrophyllus is in primitive forests, while the Podocarpus macrophyllus seen in cities is basically artificially cultivated, so it is no longer under protection. Of course, whether in primitive forests or in cities, Podocarpus macrophyllus plays an ecological role among green trees, one that other plants cannot replace.

Podocarpus varieties

After later continuous development, today’s Podocarpus macrophyllus already has many varieties, and different types present different effects to users. So, the following are several relatively common Podocarpus varieties. Let’s take a look!
1 Small-leaf Podocarpus: also known as short-leaf Tushan, Queshe Podocarpus, etc.; short-leaf Tushan, shrub-like;
2 Short-leaf Podocarpus: also known as small Podocarpus, Tushan; most suitable for potting;
3 Narrow-leaf Podocarpus: leaves strip-shaped and slender, about 5-9 cm long and 3-6 mm wide;
4 Dali Podocarpus: produced in Cangshan, Dali; can be made into bonsai;
5 Hainan Podocarpus: leaves arranged spirally and spreading, distributed in southern Hainan;

How to grow Podocarpus macrophyllus

When understanding which varieties Podocarpus macrophyllus has, users also need to pay attention to its cultivation methods. The relatively common methods of planting Podocarpus macrophyllus include sowing and cutting propagation. It only needs to be picked in August and then sown. The survival rate of Podocarpus macrophyllus is very high. Whether by seed sowing or cutting propagation, it can bring users a different stylish effect. Next, Podocarpus macrophyllus likes warm and semi-shaded environments and has average cold tolerance. It fears waterlogging and direct strong light. As for its soil, it is best to use sandy soil with good drainage. When cultivating it, users only need to pay attention to strong light in summer and keep it warm in winter.

Summary: The above is the cultivation method of Podocarpus macrophyllus compiled by the editor for users. When cultivating it, it should be noted that during the cultivation process, attention should be paid to pest and disease control so as to ensure the healthy growth of Podocarpus macrophyllus.