Podocarpus lawrencei Red Tip

Podocarpus lawrencii 'Red Tip' is a very attractive small conifer. Forming a small, spiky bush, with a more or less upright to spreading habit, it displays a very aesthetic evergreen olive-green foliage, composed of very small leaves. In spring, it produces young shoots of a deep purple-red colour, which create a superb contrast with the adult foliage. Slow-growing, this bush slowly forms a spreading cushion, wider than it is tall, which is well suited to small gardens and also allows for container cultivation. 

Podocarpus lawrencii, formerly known as P. alpinus, is an evergreen conifer of the Podocarpaceae family. Little known in our latitudes, this family nevertheless comprises no less than 19 genera, mostly originating from Australasia, as well as South America. Native to New South Wales and Tasmania, i.e. the coolest areas of this region of the globe, this species of Podocarpus is hardier than the others. Growing in its natural habitat up to 1800 meters (5905 feet) above sea level and exposed to the wind, it can withstand temperatures as low as -16°C, forming small bushes only 1m tall. Freed from these climatic constraints, in the more temperate lowland areas, it can reach a height of 15 metres (49 feet)!  In any case, it needs a moist soil to develop, but mature plants can survive occasional drought.  It is a long-lasting plant that can live up to 600 years.

The 'Red Tip' variety is a compact and spreading horticultural variety, reaching 0.5 to 1 metres (2 to 3 feet) in height and 1 to 1.5 metres (3 to 5 feet) in width after 10 years. Mature after about twenty years, it may slightly exceed these dimensions ,1m (3ft) x 2m (7ft), without ever becoming truly cumbersome! These characteristics, combined with its slow growth, make it a very good plant for container cultivation. This variety is hardy to approximately -20°C. Its foliage is very fine, with small flexible needles measuring only 1 to 2 cm (1in) in length. Its foliage is olive green in colour, dense and compact, with a spreading habit and erect shoots, which are characteristic of this variety. Evergreen, it is decorative all year round, but even more so in spring, when the young reddish-purple shoots emerge, creating a beautiful contrast with the rather dark foliage. Like the original botanical species, this small shrub requires moist soil all year round, and therefore requires watering in summer in most regions. Preferring neutral to acidic soils, it can tolerate some limestone, but will not thrive as well in such conditions. 

Podocarpus lawrencii 'Red Tip' will find its place in a small garden, in a border or rockery, provided it benefits from a moist soil. It can be displayed as a rare and precious object in a large pot on the terrace or balcony, which will protect it from the harshest cold in winter. It works wonders in a Japanese garden,  perfectly suited to the art of bonsai and goes well with large stones, geometric pool designs, and architectural structures. In a border, it can be paired with the very pretty Nandina Obsessed Seika, a variety of sacred bamboo with foliage that changes colour throughout the seasons, giving a Japanese feel to everything. Camelia lutchuensis, a rare botanical Camellia with highly fragrant white flowers, will also fit perfectly into this scene, as will Kalmia latifolia Ewa, a mountain laurel with stunning pink flowers.