Wood Species Guide
Podocarpus
Podocarpus spp. (Florida landscape trees are usually P. macrophyllus; see note)
Also called: Yew Pine, Buddhist Pine, Podocarp, Yellowwood (African species), Podo
About the name “Podocarpus”
Podocarpus is a large genus of conifers from the Southern Hemisphere and Asia. In Florida the name almost always means the planted landscape tree Podocarpus macrophyllus (yew pine or Buddhist pine), but other species are grown too. We can't confirm the species of a given log, so the hardness and weight here are genus-level figures.
What Podocarpus looks like
Heartwood is pale yellow to light golden brown and often blends into the sapwood. It can darken to a warm honey tone with age.
Grain and texture
Usually straight grain with a fine, even texture and a soft luster. Little figure, apart from knots and the odd swirl near branches.
Working Podocarpus: planing, cutting and gluing
Generally easy to work, plane and sand, with low shrinkage for a conifer. Planted Florida trees can have knots and ingrown bark that need care. Glues and finishes well.
Finishing Podocarpus: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oils and clear finishes well and stays light. Seal knots and bark seams before an epoxy pour, since they can trap air. A UV-resistant topcoat helps keep the pale color from yellowing.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not durable outdoors and susceptible to termites and other borers. Movement is fairly low once dry. In Florida, keep it indoors in AC, finish both faces, and dry slabs slowly to limit checks.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Podocarpus is one of the most common hedge and street trees in Florida, and now and then a big one comes down. We get it from local tree work occasionally, and a wide slab makes a pale, fine-grained tabletop. It is not a wood for outdoor use. Ask us what is on hand.
Common uses for Podocarpus
Furniture, cabinetry, interior trim, carving and turnings; elsewhere in the world, construction lumber, plywood and boatbuilding.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices for the planted Florida tree. A few wild Podocarpus species elsewhere are protected or CITES-listed, but salvaged Florida landscape trees are not among them.
Safety and toxicity
- No common reactions reported
Few reports. The exact species of our stock is uncertain, and no specific dust reactions are documented for the genus.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Few reactions to the wood have been reported. The seeds and fleshy fruits of yew pine are often listed as poisonous to people and pets, so don't treat the plant as edible. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Podocarpus in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Podocarpus listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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