James H. Schutte
Family
Podocarpaceae
Botanical Name
PODOCARPUS henkelii
Plant Common Name
Falcate Yellowwood, Henkel's Yellowwood
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
With shiny green foliage that looks like small sickles, Henkel's yellowwood adds a fine-texture to the landscape, either as a specimen, allee or hedgerow. Hailing from the moist highlands of eastern and southern Africa, this tall slow-growing evergreen tree has gray-brown to tan bark that is fissured, exfoliated with great age to reveal a reddish brown underlayer.
The shiny green to dark blue-green leaves are flat but narrow. Each blade has pointed ends, "rolled-under" edges, is often curved and droops from the branch. Young leaves emerge lighter green and soft. Plants are dioecious - either being male or female. There are no flowers but cones are produced: male cones are small and erect and pink-tinted while the rounder female cones bear the yellow-green seeds.
Grow Henkel's yellowwood in deep, fertile loamy or sandy soils that are moist for best growth, although it tolerates drier and clay soils but then grows more slowly. Full to partial sun exposures are required. Use it as a specimen tree in a yard or park, lining a street or collectively in a tall hedgerow. While young it is good for container culture.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 7
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 12
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
30'-50' / 9.1m - 15.2m
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Width
15'-20' / 4.6m - 6.1m
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Native To
Eastern Africa, Southern Africa
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Fissured
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Birds
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Self-Sowing
Yes
