Willow Leaf Podocarpus (Podocarpus salignus)

Podocarpus salignus, or the Willow Leaf Podocarpus, is a coniferous evergreen tree native to southern Chile. It is found from 35 to 42° south latitude at elevations between 400m and 650m in high rainfall areas. It grows in Valdivian rainforest settings, water courses, Nothofagus, and Laurel-leaved forests. In garden settings, it can reach heights of 12 metres and a spread of 8 metres over a 20 to 25-year period. It is a slow-growing specimen suited to cool and warm temperate locations with moderate to high rainfall. It prefers deep, loamy, slightly acidic organic soils but can tolerate well-drained clays and sandy silts. Podocarpus salignus is frost-hardy to most Australian conditions but dislikes sites with yearly deep snowfall. Surprisingly, it is somewhat drought-tolerant and will grow in Mediterranean climates.