Maki Podocarpus

{"key":"maki","id":"PLT-PODO-MAKI","slug":"maki-podocarpus","name":"Maki Podocarpus","botanical":"Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Maki’","h":[8,10],"w":[3,5],"install":[4,2],"treeForm":"narrow","color":"#536d4e","native":false,"type":"trees","categoryLabel":"Trees","reviewDate":"2026-09-08","guideKind":"Compact upright yew-pine selection","eyebrow":"A SLIM EVERGREEN FOR RESIDENTIAL PLANTING","benefit":"Add a vertical green accent without a broad shade canopy.","intro":"Maki Podocarpus offers the dark, fine-looking foliage of yew pine in a slower, more compact selection. Its upright habit can help frame a courtyard or organize a mixed residential bed. Use it where a green column is useful, while allowing enough space for the foliage to stay full and for the plant to continue growing.","light":"Full sun to part shade","lightTags":["sun","part"],"water":"Moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil; avoid persistent saturation","season":"Evergreen strap-like leaves · lighter new growth · a consistent green outline","care":"Light shaping where needed; confirm the named selection and inspect soil moisture before adding irrigation","caution":"Specify Maki rather than generic Podocarpus. The 8–10 ft range is a reference size, and Monrovia explicitly notes that plants become larger with age. A clipped or tree-trained form needs ongoing care. Seeds are poisonous if eaten.","sizeBasis":"Garden-size reference","heightLabel":"Garden reference height","spreadLabel":"Garden reference spread","sizeNote":"NC State lists Maki at 8–10 ft high and 3–5 ft wide. Monrovia gives 8–10 × 3–4 ft at ten years and says larger with age. This guide therefore labels the diagram as a garden-size reference rather than a lifetime maximum. Reserve additional flexibility and confirm the nursery plant’s identity and form.","site":"Maki can serve as a residential entry accent, a courtyard column or part of a layered boundary in Pensacola. Keep its base and future foliage clear of equipment and walkways. A well-drained bed is central to the decision; do not group it into the same watering schedule as plants that require continuously wet ground.","uses":["A narrow courtyard accent","An upright evergreen in a mixed bed","A green frame beside an entry","A lightly shaped residential screen","A compact yew-pine comparison option"],"checks":[["Is the nursery label specific enough?","Record Maki on the selection list. Generic yew pine can mature on a much larger scale, even if it looks similar when young."],["Can it grow beyond the reference size?","Avoid trapping the plant beneath a low eave or between fixed surfaces. Leave room to revise the planting as it ages."],["Does the planting need a natural or trained form?","Choose the stock intentionally. A clear trunk, formal column or topiary shape involves a different maintenance commitment."],["Will irrigation keep the roots too wet?","Review the soil and nearby sprinkler coverage. More watering is not automatically the answer to a struggling evergreen."]],"faq":[["Is Maki a true yew?","No. Podocarpus is commonly called yew pine, but it is botanically different from Taxus and from plum yew."],["Is the ten-foot illustration a permanent limit?","No. It is a published reference size. Monrovia notes larger growth with age, so the guide keeps that qualification visible."],["Can it be used beside a pool?","It may suit a separate well-drained bed, with space for access and maintenance. Consider any seeds and litter, and keep the plant beyond the usable walking area."]],"sources":[["NC State Extension · Maki identity, size and site needs","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/podocarpus-macrophyllus-var-maki/"],["Monrovia · Maki ten-year reference and later growth","https://www.monrovia.com/shrubby-yew-podocarpus.html"]],"wholeCaption":"Illustrative Maki at garden-reference size, shown in its natural leafy upright form.","detailCaption":"Illustrative narrow leathery Podocarpus leaves and their central midribs.","aliases":["maki","podocarpus","yew pine","compact yew","small evergreen","narrow screen"],"goals":["privacy"],"images":{"context":{"id":"6aa02f17e4f87427291a2e70","url":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6a975baac0f352647862d847/6aa02f17e4f87427291a2e70_landova-tree-maki-context.webp","alt":"Illustrative planting concept with Maki Podocarpus","width":1600,"height":900},"whole":{"id":"6aa02f18b802453325cacfeb","url":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6a975baac0f352647862d847/6aa02f18b802453325cacfeb_landova-tree-maki-whole.webp","alt":"Illustrative whole-plant form of Maki Podocarpus","width":1122,"height":1402,"fit":"contain"},"detail":{"id":"6aa02f18acd205dadcb6a820","url":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6a975baac0f352647862d847/6aa02f18acd205dadcb6a820_landova-tree-maki-detail.webp","alt":"Illustrative foliage and seasonal detail of Maki Podocarpus","width":1254,"height":1254}},"companions":[{"slug":"podocarpus-yew-pine","name":"Podocarpus / Yew Pine","title":"Compare the larger species guide","reason":"The full-size Podocarpus guide explains why the cultivar name matters. Select the plant that fits the long-term role.","image":{"id":"6a9f4a4b6ec3ad07cb7d25e2","url":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6a975baac0f352647862d847/6a9f4a4b6ec3ad07cb7d25e2_landova-podo-context-r04.webp","alt":"Illustrative planting concept with Podocarpus / Yew Pine"}},{"slug":"kaleidoscope-abelia","name":"Kaleidoscope Abelia","title":"Add a separate lower color layer","reason":"Kaleidoscope Abelia can bring changing foliage to a compatible sunny edge. Give each plant its own mature footprint and light.","image":{"id":"6a9f348631acb08063518ae3","url":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6a975baac0f352647862d847/6a9f348631acb08063518ae3_landova-shrub-kaleidoscope-context-r02.webp","alt":"Illustrative planting concept with Kaleidoscope Abelia"}}]}