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Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine

$260.00

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Size: 40cm/45L

40cm/45L 100L 300L

All stock is grown, maintained and graded in strict accordance with AS 4373-2007, Australian Standard for Nursery Stock.

Current Stock Height Guides

40cm/45L: 1.3m – 1.8m Approx.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 8–12 m

Mature Width: 4–6 m

Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine is expected to grow 0.5–1 m per year.

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

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About Your New Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine

Podocarpus elatus, commonly known as Brown Pine or Plum Pine, is a large, evergreen Australian native tree valued for its dense foliage and long life. It develops a tall, straight trunk with dark, rough bark and a broad crown. The leaves are glossy, narrow, and dark green, held in neat arrangements along spreading branches. In spring, small flowers appear, followed by fleshy purple-black fruits that resemble plums and are attractive to birds and other wildlife. Mature specimens can reach 20–30 metres in height with a spread of 6–10 metres in ideal conditions.

This species has a slow to moderate growth rate and is highly adaptable to a variety of soils, provided drainage is good. Podocarpus elatus is hardy, evergreen, frost tolerant once established, and performs well in both coastal and inland gardens. It is low-maintenance, requiring little pruning, and provides year-round structure and shade.

They look excellent when used as feature trees in large gardens, planted in avenues for formal landscapes, or included in civic plantings and parks. They also provide significant habitat value and make long-lived shade trees in native garden designs.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Features and Benefits

Organically certified product
Improves aeration for roots
A rich blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, Gypsum, composted coarse bark and wetting agent
Excellent to mix with heavy clay soils, an organic mixture with added gypsum which is perfect for exotic plants
Revitalises tired soils, adds nutrient and organic matter, no chemical additives, weed free
Assists in retaining moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering

Directions For Use

Water plant well at least several hours prior to planting.
Dig a hole at least twice the width of the pot and 7cm deeper than the pot.
Mix Grow Better Enriched Planting Mix with the soil that has been dug out of the hole, adding about 1/3 planting mix.
Spread a 7cm layer of improved soil in the hole and remove plant from the pot. Tease roots gently if the root ball is very firm and place plant in the planting hole. Check that pot soil is level with the surrounding soil surface level, not higher or lower.
Fill in the hole with improved soil mixture, firm down soil and water well adding Grow Better Plant Starter to final watering.

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Feature Tree
Shade Tree
Avenue Planting
Council or Civic Landscapes

Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine works in an:

Australian Native Garden – celebrates local plants with natural character.
Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Edible Garden – integrates fruit, herbs, and productive plants.

Is Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine Evergreen or Deciduous?

Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 8–12 m

Mature Width: 4–6 m

Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine is expected to grow 0.5–1 m per year.

Growth Rate of Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine

Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine is expected to grow 0.5–1 m per year.

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine

Is Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine frost tolerant?

Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine Flower?

Podocarpus elatus produces very small, inconspicuous male and female cones in spring. While not ornamental, these structures mature into fleshy purple-blue fruits that resemble plums, adding a subtle seasonal feature among the glossy dark green foliage.

Does Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine flower?

No - Doesn't Flower

Flowering Period:

Spring

Flower Type:

Not Applicable

Flower Colour:

Not Applicable

Is Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine an Australian Native Tree?

Yes

Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine is Native to Native to eastern Australia, from southern New South Wales through Queensland rainforests.

What is the Wildlife Value of Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine ?

Its fruit is highly attractive to fruit-eating birds such as figbirds and currawongs, while the dense, layered foliage provides excellent shelter, nesting habitat and protection for small birds. The tree’s evergreen structure also supports insects and microfauna, making it a strong ecological contributor in native and suburban plantings.

How much Sunlight does Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine need?

Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Podocarpus elatus performs best in moist, well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions. It may struggle in heavy clay or poorly drained positions unless improved with organic matter and coarse material to enhance aeration and drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then move to deep, occasional watering as the tree matures to support healthy evergreen growth, strong root development and reliable fruiting.

Is Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine Drought Tolerant?

Is Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it requires consistent watering, but once established Brown Pine develops moderate drought tolerance. It performs best in moist, well-drained soils but will cope with occasional dry periods when supported by deep, infrequent watering, maintaining dense evergreen growth even in warm climates.

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How To Plant Your Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun with good air movement and room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and a light dressing of aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth, avoiding any low spot where water might pool.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine is expected to grow 0.5–1 m per year.

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, reduce to once weekly in dry periods. Mulch helps maintain consistent moisture.

Mulching: Apply a 5 centimetre layer of organic mulch or pine bark over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk to avoid waterlogging at the base.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release native blend in early spring and again in autumn. Avoid high-phosphorus formulations as a precaution.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional scale or caterpillar inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Podocarpus elatus – Brown Pine / Plum Pine in Different Soil

Podocarpus elatus performs best in well-drained sandy loam or loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.