Description:

The yew pine is an upright to somewhat oval shrub or small tree. Podocarps are gymnosperms like pines, spruces and cycads. They have needlelike leaves that are flat and a lustrous dark green. Catkin-like structures on male plants produce pollen. Scaly ovules on females are small and inconspicuous. These produce small blue fruits that are attractive against the dark foliage but are mildly toxic and should not be eaten.

This is an excellent woody foliage shrub, and may be trimmed or shaped into round or square columns or cones. Although it has a moderate to slow rate of growth, it can become very large if left alone to grow undisturbed. Specimens on the campus of Florida State University are easily 20 ft (6.1 m). This large shrub or tree can reach 30-40 ft (9.1-12.2 m) in height with about half that in spread.