Microcachrys tetragona
Common name:
Creeping Pine
Creeping Strawberry Pine
Pronunciation:
my-kro-KAY-krys tet-ra-GON-uh
Family:
Podocarpaceae
Genus:
Type:
Conifer
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
No
- Conifer, evergreen, low growing shrub or ground cover, to about 6 inches (15 cm) high (but to 1 m at high altitudes) with long, spreading, slender, whip-like, 4-angled branchlets. Leaves scale-like, about 2-3 mm long, uniform, crowded and overlapping, in 4 regular ranks. Male and female cones on separate branches of the same plant. Male cones about 2 mm long with 20 or more stamen. Female cones rounded or egg-shaped, 6-8 mm long, fleshy and bright red with ripe, mulberry-like in appearance.
- Sun or light shade, best in a well-drained soil high in organic matter, requires plenty of water. It grows in full sun in its native Tasmania, but light shade may be required in low altitude areas with hot and dry summers.
- Hardy to USDA Zone 8 Native to western Tasmania
- Microcachrys: of Greek origin meaning small, mikros, catkin, cachrus, referring to the minute 2 mm male cones
- tetragona: refers to the 4-angled branchlets.
Click image to enlarge
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plant habit, fruiting
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fruiting branch
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branchlets and leaves
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female cones
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developing and mature cones
