Buddhist Pine- a lucky charm

Podocarpus macrophyllus

The ripe cone arils are edible and sweet,
BUT the seed should not be eaten.

• Yew Pine
• Southern Yew
• Buddhist Pine
• Kasamaki
• Inumaki
• Luo Han Song
• Good Luck pines
•  Fern Pine

USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 to 10

The oval seed sits on ripened fleshy receptacle

The mature seeds and attached "false fruit cones" look like meditating disciples of the Buddha . It is a popular large shrub or small tree in China, Japan and the southeastern United States. The ripe cone arils are edible and sweet, BUT the seed should not be eaten.

The Buddhist Pine is viewed as a lucky charm, and are often used in the life improvement system of feng shui and are often planted on temple grounds.

Podocarpus macrophyllus
Hyougo-ken Japan

The Buddhist Pine is thought to be the harbinger of good fortune. Along with the Bodhi Tree, the Buddhist Pine plays at important inspirational role in Buddhism.

Good Luck pines
Many believe that the podocarpus attracts good health and that wealth is a by-product of being healthy.

Podocarpus macrophyllus as penjing, penjing garden,
 Shanghai Botanical Garden

When grown outdoors, the evergreen podocarpus can grow to thirty feet with a spread of about twenty feet or can easily be pruned into a nice hedge.

• Evergreen tree with no showy fall color
• Drought Tolerant
• Needs a well-drained soil.
• Best growth and form in full sun, but will tolerate shade. 

Hong Kong Central Library

Good Luck pines
Yew Pine
Southern Yew
Buddhist Pine is highly regarded as a feng shui tree



Good Luck pines
Yew Pine,

Podocarpus macrophyllus at the main gate of Rinzai Buddhist temple.

Podocarpus works well in both informal and sheared hedges
This is planted in the median of Victory Drive...