Podocarpus matudiae is my favorite plant in the garden this week…

Last week the Outlaw wrote a blog post showing a line of very realistic looking fake plants. This got me thinking about my new Podocarpus matudiae, a gift from Sean Hogan at Cistus Nursery. When he pulled it from greenhouse stock and handed it to me my first thought was “that looks fake!” And due to my inability to properly sensor my outbursts I said so. Nice...my mother would be proud.

But there’s something about that bright green new-growth and thick, almost waxy, foliage that makes me think of fake plants. It’s just so, so, green!

And that’s why it’s my favorite plant this week. After spending time with the dead it’s nice to see something so vibrantly alive…

Here’s a picture of a much older plant growing in Sean’s garden, I borrowed it from a post on the Cistus Facebook page sharing results of the December freeze, both good and bad. Obviously it sailed through the cold temps.

Here’s a 2-yr old plant growing in the Seattle garden of Justin Galicic (who blogs at Growing Steady, thanks for the photo Justin)…

To see the plant when he first purchased it check out his blog post on a visit to Cistus in February of 2012. Here’s the description from Cistus: “From 5200 ft in the Sierra Madre Orientale cloud forest, our collection of this lovely and rare Mexican podocarp, one of the most beautiful hardy conifers for tropical effect. To 20 ft tall or so with weeping branches and a graceful form -- a large textured presence in the garden. Damp soil and dappled shade is best with protection from drying winds. Has tolerated temperatures below 10F, upper USDA zone 7, so far.”

A “tropical effect conifer”…now that’s something I can appreciate. As to where I’m going to put a currently 12” tall plant that can eventually reach 20ft tall, that's the question!

Is there a plant which has caught your eye this week? Please tell us about it!

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