Podocarpus lawrencei × nivalis 'County Park Fire' / County Park Fire hybrid plum-pine

Podocarpus lawrencei × nivalis 'County Park Fire' is a spreading, low-growing, shrubby, selection of hybrid plum-pine that presents an stunning yearly kaleidoscope of color throughout the seasons. The show begins in spring with a first flush of creamy new foliage. These fresh needles soon harden off to salmon-pink, then to its summer-time green. With the onset of colder temperatures in fall, a bronze frosting takes over which is boldly offset by bright-red berries (seed cones).

After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 20 to 24 inches (50 - 60 cm) tall and 4.5 to 6 feet (1.5 - 2 m) wide, an annual growth rate of 3 to 6 inches, significantly more outward than up.

This cultivar originated as a seedling selected in the early 1980s by Graham and Margaret Hutchins at County Park Nursery, Hornchurch, United Kingdom.