Podocarpus macrophyllus Mood Ring - Buddhist pine

Podocarpus macrophyllus Mood Ring 'Sosa', or Buddhist pine Mood Ring, is an evergreen conifer with a very regular, columnar habit, prized for its red-bronze young shoots, providing narrow hedges and privacy screens in not too cold climates, in partial shade and in humus-bearing soil. It can also be planted in a large container, to be overwintered protected from severe frosts.

Podocarpus Mood Ring belongs to the Podocarpaceae family. The type species, Podocarpus macrophyllus, is known by the names Buddhist pine or large-leaved podocarp. This dioecious conifer (separate male and female plants) is native to the Far East: southern Japan, southern and eastern China, Taiwan, and northern Myanmar. It grows there up to about 1,000 m altitude. It is a very long-lived, evergreen tree.
The cultivar Mood Ring 'Sosa' originated from a branch mutation observed in the early 2000s by the Japanese breeder Kenichi Kawaguchi, in Chiba Prefecture. The variety was later patented as Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Sosa' (PP28583), then distributed under the Mood Ring® brand in several ornamental collections. It is clearly distinguished from the type species by the spectacular colour of its young foliage, its very upright habit and its naturally limited branching, giving it a neater and more regular silhouette than classic forms. In the breeder's trials, no flowers or fruit were observed.

Buddhist pine 'Mood Ring' ultimately forms a large shrub or small tree with a straight, single trunk, topped by a narrow, slightly conical crown. The bark of mature specimens cracks into irregular plates, similar to a tortoiseshell pattern; a detail prized in Japanese-inspired gardens. In good garden soil and under a mild climate, a plant commonly reaches 2.50 m to 3 m in height in about ten years, with a spread of 1.20 m to 1.50 m. In very favourable subtropical zones, the breeder states that trees may approach 15 m in height and 5 to 10 m in spread in the long term.
The needles are long, narrow, thick and leathery: they measure about 6 cm long by 6–7 mm wide, are a glossy dark green and show a well-marked central vein. They grow in a spiral around the twigs, somewhat like large pine needles. The originality of Mood Ring lies in its young shoots: in spring and autumn, the tips of the twigs are adorned with a mix of reddish-brown, coppery and rosy-bronze tones, which gradually turn to dark green as they mature.
The root system is well-anchored but not aggressive, allowing this conifer to be planted relatively close to structures. Its hardiness is rated at -8/-10°C in short spells for a well-established plant.

In the garden, in favourable climates, podocarp Mood Ring 'Sosa' is prized for its height and elegance. It can be planted in a row to form a narrow evergreen hedge that provides privacy without taking up too much space. In a Japanese-inspired garden, it will accompany Japanese maples, rhododendrons and shade-loving grasses. It can also be grown as a small specimen tree near an entrance or at the back of a patio. In a pot, on a sheltered terrace, it makes a beautiful pair with Nandina domestica 'Twilight', with its variegated leaves, or Loropetalum chinense 'Black Pearl', with its almost black purple foliage. In a shrub border, its architectural habit highlights the large variegated leaves of Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' and the golden clumps of Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold'. These plants appreciate a relatively mild climate, non-calcareous, well-worked soil, and a site sheltered from cold winds.

Beyond its ornamental interest, the podocarp holds a special place in Asian culture: it is highly prized as a feng shui tree in Hong Kong and the species was chosen as the emblem tree of Chiba Prefecture; its dense wood, resistant to water and insects, is also traditionally used for house framing in some regions of Japan.