Podocarpus lawrencei 'Blue Gem'

Here in the nursery, we almost always identify plants by their botanical names, especially when it comes to shrubs and trees. Common names are often deceptive and invariably will create confusion as to the true nature of a plant. Case in point, Podocarpus lawrencei 'Blue Gem' is commonly referred to as Blue Gem Mountain Plum Pine, but it is neither a plum nor a pine. To make things even messier, the foliage is very yew-like, so gardeners may think this evergreen shrub is a yew, and it's not. What 'Blue Gem' is, is a slow growing, evergreen, low spreading shrub that will be bigger in width than in height. Springtime growth emerges a reddish-purple, then morphs to a blue-green color. Consider using 'Blue Gem' as a taller ground cover, or place it in drier spots in the garden. For those who wish a neater appearance, this specimen does take well to shaping/shearing.

Common Name: Blue Gem Mountain Plum Pine

Plant Type: Evergreen

Mature Size: 4 feet tall, up to 6 feet wide

Growth Rate: Slow

Cold Hardiness: -10°

Light:

• Full Sun
• Afternoon Sun

Foliage Color: Green

Bloom Color: None

Bloom Time:

• N/A

Structure: Spreading

Characteristics:

• Drought tolerant once established

Photos: Real images, not stock photos

Please Note: When Ground Shipping is selected, plants will be shipped on the following Monday to help maintain the plant quality.