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Taxaceae FAMILY Vulnerable

Pseudotaxus chienii

Pseudotaxus chienii

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Shrub
Growth—

Pseudotaxus chienii is found in warm temperate regions of southeastern China. The climate there is temperate, cool and humid, with a mean annual precipitation around 1,800 - 2,000mm and frequent cloud cover or fog[1]. Although the plant is tolerant of winter cold, surviving temperatures falling to around -20°c, it also requires a lot of summer humidity and heat, with temperatures of around 30°c. Consequently, the plant often does not thrive in maritime climates and other areas with cool summers[2]. The plant grows in the wild in shallow yellow earth (pH 4.2-4.5), or in crevices on acidic rock, often on precipices above streams[1]. Growing best in the shade of woodland, with exposure to sun its growth becomes retarded and the habit changes to a low shrub[1]. Seed production is infrequent, with seed maturation from early to mid spring and seeds remain dormant for a year or more[1]. The species is in cultivation as an ornamental on a limited scale in Zhejiang, but is little known outside China[1]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[1].

Propagation

Seed - can be very slow to germinate, often taking 2 or more years[3, 4]. It is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn when it should germinate 18 months later. Stored seed may take 2 years or more to germinate. 4 months warm followed by 4 months cold stratification may help reduce the germination time[5]. Harvesting the seed 'green' (when fully developed but before it has dried on the plant) and then sowing it immediately has not been found to reduce the germination time because the inhibiting factors develop too early[4]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in pots in a cold frame. The seedlings are very slow-growing and will probably require at least 2 years of pot cultivation before being large enough to plant out. Any planting out is best done in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[PFAF]. Cuttings of half-ripe terminal shoots, 5 - 8cm long, July/August in a shaded frame. Should root by late September but leave them in the frame over winter and plant out in late spring[3]. High percentage[6]. Cuttings of ripe terminal shoots, taken in winter after a hard frost, in a shaded frame[5]. Layering the stems. Plants often self-layer in the wild[7]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Pseudotaxus+chienii>

Pollinators

Wind

References

  1. [1]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. — Sheat. W. G. · MacMillan and Co · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
  4. [4]Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. — McMillan-Browse. P. · Grower Books · 1985 · ISBN 0-901361-21-6 ↩︎Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.
  5. [5]The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. — Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. · Athens Ga. Varsity Press · 1987 · ISBN 0942375009 ↩︎A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
  6. [6]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
  7. [7]Silvics of North America. Agricultural Handbook No. 654. — Burns. R.M. & Honkala. B.H. · USDA Forest Service; Washington DC. · 1990 · http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm ↩︎A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.
  8. [8]The Gymnosperm Database — http://www.conifers.org/index.htm ↩︎A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms.
  9. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎