Rooted in the tradition of East Asian gardens, Podocarpus ‘Meta’ is a dwarf cultivar of Podocarpus macrophyllus, valued for its dense, upright growth and refined, needle-like foliage. Native to Japan and China, this evergreen shrub is well-suited to USDA Zones 8–11 and thrives in a variety of landscape settings, from formal hedges to foundation plantings. It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils and tolerates full sun to partial shade.
‘Meta’ grows slowly to a height of 6 to 10 feet, with a naturally columnar habit that requires minimal pruning to maintain shape. It is moderately salt-tolerant—ideal for protected coastal sites—and shows strong resistance to drought, deer, and most common pests, including scale and aphids. Unlike flowering ornamentals, Podocarpus reproduces via cones rather than blooms, with male plants producing small pollen cones and female plants developing fleshy seed structures. Durable, clean, and long-lived, ‘Meta’ is a versatile choice for low-maintenance, evergreen structure in both residential and commercial landscapes.
