Lepidothamnus intermedius aka Yellow Silver Pine

Lepidothamnus intermedius is a tree known as yellow silver pine. It is evergreen and belongs to the podocarp family, Podocarpaceae. It is native to New Zealand’s North, South and Stewart Islands. It grows in forests, from lowland sites to subalpine ground. Its native sites include bog forests. Kew places it in the temperate climate zone. The same species once had the name Dacrydium intermedium.

This tree keeps its leaves all year and grows slowly. Plants For A Future gives its height as about 33 feet [10 metres]. The source notes that British plants stay much smaller than native trees. Warm summers help it grow, but growth stays slow. Its firm, yellowish wood holds resin and has a straight grain. The wood lasts well. People have used it for boats and telegraph poles.

In gardens, this tree needs shelter from cold winds. Choose light soil that lets excess water drain away. Sand and loam suit it, but the soil must stay moist. It accepts soil that is mildly acid, neutral or mildly alkaline. It needs high rainfall and moist air to grow well. It can take light shade. Such shade may be vital in drier places. A woodland garden with shelter makes a good site. Though it needs moisture, it still needs soil that drains well.

Cold limits where this tree can grow in Britain. Plants For A Future limits it to the country's milder areas. It reports cold tolerance between about −5 and −10°C. It also lists USDA zones 7–10. Separate trees bear the male and female parts used to breed. Wind carries the pollen. A lone tree cannot fertilise itself. Grow both sexes if you aim to get seeds. The supplied evidence gives no season for pollen or seed growth.

Raise new plants from seed or cuttings taken in early autumn. Reports differ on how fast seeds sprout. One gives one to three months at 20°C. Another warns of long delays. Sow fresh seed when ripe. Sow stored seed early in the year. Use compost that drains well and a cold frame. Keep young plants under glass through their first winter. Plant them out after the last spring frost you expect. Plants For A Future lists no known food or medicinal uses. It also reports no known hazards. This does not mean the tree is safe to eat.