Chilean Yew (Prumnopitys andina)

Prumnopitys andina, known as the Ileuque in Spanish and as the Chilean Yew is an evergreen conifer native to south-central Chile and the extreme west of Argentina. Found from 36 to 40°S latitude, it lives on moderately wet soils, on Andean slopes from 500–1,100 meters. In its native range, it can grow up to 30 metres tall with a spread of up to 15 metres with trunk diameters of over 2 metres. Under most Australian conditions, expect heights upwards of 15 metres and spreads of 8 metres, and taller if you live in wet, cool temperate regions with high rainfall. In addition to being a stunning ornamental, it can be trained into an attractive hedge. Like most conifers in the family Podocarpaceae, it produces an attractive, edible fruit that contains a single seed that is often eaten and dispersed by birds. Thrives in most acid to slightly acid soil types, it prefers a sheltered position in full to partial sun.