Prumnopitys andina aka Plum Fruited Yew

Prumnopitys andina is an evergreen conifer in the Podocarpaceae family. Its common names include Chilean yew and plum-fruited yew. It comes from south-central and southern Chile and nearby Argentina. Its Argentine range includes Neuquén. It grows in damp woods between the coast and hills. This tree belongs to a temperate climate, rather than the tropics.

In gardens, it grows about 25–50 feet [7.5–15 metres] tall. The RHS gives a height above 39 feet [12 metres]. Its spread reaches 13–26 feet [4–8 metres]. It may take more than 50 years to reach full size. Young trees can look like shrubs and have several stems. Older trees form dense crowns, sometimes above a crooked trunk. The bark is smooth and grey. Its narrow leaves resemble those of a yew. They feel soft, bend easily, and may curve or twist. Leaf colour ranges from bright green to blue-green. Two pale lines mark each leaf's underside. The pointed tips do not prick.

Pale cream to yellow-white male cones grow in small clusters. Each cluster holds five to twenty cones. The RHS reports male cones at different times of year. The seed cones look like small plums. They start pale green, then turn dark purple or purple-brown. Each contains one seed. Plants For A Future lists both fruit and seeds as edible. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It has a sweet, grape-like taste. That source gives no further details about eating the seeds. It lists no known hazards or medicinal uses.

Grow this tree in sun, though it also accepts light shade. Choose moist soil that drains well and has moderate fertility. It tolerates sand, loam, clay, and chalk. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. Give it shelter from cold winds that dry the leaves. The RHS rates it H5. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 7–10. Oregon State gives zone 8 as its hardiness threshold.

Its dense growth suits hedges, screens, and woodland edges. It tolerates clipping, with hedge trimming in early or midsummer. The wood has a use in furniture. The RHS reports few pest or disease problems. Raise plants from spring-sown seed or late-summer semi-ripe cuttings.