Podocarpus, Delivered and Planted in Cape Coral and Fort Myers

For a clipped evergreen hedge that handles sun, shade and light salt spray, podocarpus is a steady performer across SW Florida. It grows at a moderate pace, stays dense and dark green from the ground up, and shears into a formal screen or a tall narrow accent. We deliver and plant 3, 7 and 15 gallon plants, plus a compact Pringles Dwarf for low hedges.

Light:: Full sun to shade
Water:: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established, but young plants need regular water
Salt:: Moderate to high; handles light salt spray

Text Me a Planted Price Call (239) 799-5594

Podocarpus sizes we deliver and plant

Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.

Variety or form	Sizes	Good to know
Podocarpus	3 Gallon, 7 Gallon, 15 Gallon	The standard upright podocarpus in 3, 7 and 15 gallon sizes, used for tall hedges, screens and narrow accents.
Podocarpus Pringles Dwarf	3 Gallon, 7 Gallon	A compact, slower-growing selection in 3 and 7 gallon sizes that stays far smaller, suited to low hedges, borders and foundation beds.

Podocarpus in SW Florida, at a glance

Mature size here: Up to 40 ft if left unpruned; hedges are commonly kept at 5 to 10 ft; Pringles Dwarf stays only a few feet tall
Light: Full sun to shade
Water: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established, but young plants need regular water
Salt tolerance: Moderate to high; handles light salt spray
Cold tolerance: Very hardy; a hard freeze may burn new tips, which regrow
Growth rate: Moderate
Spacing: 3 to 4 ft on center for a hedge, closer for 3 gallon and wider for 15 gallon; about 2 to 3 ft for Pringles Dwarf
Florida native: No, native to Japan and southern China
Botanical name: Podocarpus macrophyllus

Where Podocarpus works in a SW Florida yard

Podocarpus is the classic formal evergreen: sheared tight along a property line, flanking an entry, or lining a driveway or courtyard wall. It also clips into columns, balls and spirals. Use 15 gallon plants where you need a screen sooner, and Pringles Dwarf for low hedges in front of taller ones.

Dwarf ixora suits the foreground, and a crape myrtle behind it adds height. Leave about 2 ft between the hedge and a fence so both faces can be trimmed.

Formal clipped hedges
Privacy screens
Narrow side-yard screens
Foundation and entry planting
Low dwarf borders

How our crew plants it

Dig each hole 2 to 3 times as wide as the root ball and no deeper, with the top of the root ball slightly above grade so it drains. For a hedge, run a string line and set plants 3 to 4 ft apart, closer for 3 gallon sizes. Backfill with native soil, mulch 2 to 3 inches pulled back from the stems, and water in.

Extra watering is allowed on new plantings under Lee and Collier rules, so water often at first, then taper off to your assigned days.

Care after planting

Shear lightly and often through the growing season instead of one hard cut, and keep the top slightly narrower than the base so the lower branches get light.
Treat pale new leaves with chelated iron or a micronutrient fertilizer, since our alkaline sandy soil locks up iron and manganese.
Water new plants more often at first, then once or twice a week on your assigned days in the dry season.
Feed in spring and early fall with a slow-release shrub fertilizer, and skip nitrogen and phosphorus from June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
Keep mulch 2 to 3 inches deep and off the stems.

What to watch for

Yellowing from iron or manganese deficiency is the most common problem in alkaline soil, and root rot follows when the site stays wet, so check drainage before adding fertilizer.
Aphids and scale can leave sticky honeydew and sooty mold on new growth, so look under the leaves while trimming.

Podocarpus questions we hear

How far apart do you plant podocarpus for a hedge?+

Plant podocarpus 3 to 4 ft apart, center to center, for a solid hedge, closer with 3 gallon plants and wider with 15 gallon ones. Pringles Dwarf can go a little tighter, around 2 to 3 ft. Setting plants on a string line keeps the finished hedge straight and the clipped face even.

How fast does podocarpus grow?+

At a moderate pace, slower than clusia or ligustrum. Hedges planted from 7 or 15 gallon plants at 3 to 4 ft usually knit together within one to two growing seasons, and growth picks up in the summer rains. If you need privacy sooner, buy larger plants instead of hoping for faster growth.

Why are my podocarpus leaves turning yellow?+

Most often it is iron or manganese deficiency, because sandy, alkaline soil locks those nutrients up. New leaves turn pale with green veins. Chelated iron or a micronutrient fertilizer usually corrects it. Wet soil, planting too deep and root rot cause yellowing too, so check drainage first.

Is podocarpus a good privacy hedge in Cape Coral?+

Yes, once it fills in. It stays dense and dark green from the ground up and clips cleanly, though it is slower than clusia or ligustrum. It handles sun or shade and light salt spray, so it fits most Lee and Collier lots, and 15 gallon plants shorten the wait.

What is the difference between podocarpus and Pringles Dwarf podocarpus?+

Standard podocarpus is an upright evergreen that becomes a tall hedge or even a tree if left alone, so it suits screens and narrow accents. Pringles Dwarf is a compact, slower selection that stays only a few feet tall, which suits low hedges, borders and foundation beds with far less trimming.

How much does it cost to install a podocarpus hedge?+

Cost depends on plant size, how many feet of hedge you want and how many plants that takes, so we text a planted price instead of quoting a per-plant number. Send the length and the height you want. Replies usually come within the hour during the day, and half down holds the plants and a delivery day.

Updated October 2026