Podocarpus nivalis

This is a lovely little conifer from New Zealand that forms a dense rounded shrub a bit like an alpine Hebe. Now there's a lot of talk going around that this is a good replacement for Box (Buxus) for compact hedging and topiary and the like. To be perfectly honest I'm a little sceptical about  this . It's a lovely neat little specimen shrub but doesn't grow as rapidly as box so it doesn't shape as well. That's certainly true of my seed-grown ones anyway. Newer versions might be better. I'm working on one that does have vigour but doesn't propagate as easily. So far...It makes lovely little Yew- type berries so those seeds will be used to make new plants but that's for future years. If there are any. 

Other replacements for Box? Ilex crenata's very good though I've heard reports of unexplained sudden deaths. Small leaved versions of Euonymus are probably the best thing if you're too posh for Lonicera nitada which let's face it clips very nice, grows very fast and is indestructible. So many people email me with variations on this question I've decided to start trialling some of the Sarcococcas for the purpose. They're often called Winter Box, so that's got to be a good sign right? 

Anyway I never have enough Podocarps to provide the number that unfortunate folks whose Box hedges have succumbed to Moths or blight normally request. There is a dark-leaved version I've seen at several garden centres up here in the North-West recently so somebody must have loads of them.  I'm always making cuttings of Podocarpus nivalis so do ask!