‘Blue Gem’ Mountain Plum Pine (Podocarpus alpinus)

Podocarpus alpinus (syn. Podocarpus lawrencei) ‘Blue Gem’ is a cultivar derived from a species of podocarp native throughout the Australian high country, from southern Tasmania through to the New South Wales highlands. Common names are the Mountain Plum Pine and the Errinundra Plum Pine, though it is neither a pine nor a plum and belongs to the order Podocarpaceae. It grows on exposed sites to 1,800 metres altitude, often forming living carpets over rocks through wind pruning.

Mountain plum-pine can live up to 600 years, and the growth rings vary with the temperature of the growing season, with narrower rings indicating unusually snowy years. These factors make it useful for determining past climate conditions in the Australian Alps.

Mountain plum-pine is tolerant of quite dry conditions and can resprout after losing all its leaves from drought. It survives ?16 °C to 45 °C and grows well in full sun or fairly heavy shade. It is slow growing, putting on about 3–5 cm of length each year. It can be grown from cuttings or seeds. New foliage is usually lime green, darkening to olive green as it hardens.

Ideally, the mountain plum-pine should be grown in full sunlight with plenty of water. It makes a good indoor plant in a bright window. It is an excellent bonsai or hedging plant, although it does require patience.

It is a highly ornamental low-growing shrub with dense, needle-like blue foliage and red new growth. Spreads to approx. 90cm and reaches a height of 30cm creating a ground cover. Great for containers, as a ground cover and for borders.