Plant name: *Podocarpus macrophyllus* **Common name:** Buddhist pine, Japanese podocarpus or Japanese yew pine **Identification confidence:** Moderate. The long, narrow leathery leaves and cloud-pruned evergreen form strongly suggest *Podocarpus macrophyllus*. A cultivar cannot be identified reliably from this photograph. Japanese yew (*Taxus cuspidata*) is a possible alternative. **Distinguishing features:** Upright evergreen conifer with flattened, strap-like dark-green leaves rather than conventional needles. This specimen has been repeatedly clipped into a Japanese “cloud tree” or niwaki form. **Mature height and spread:** If unpruned, approximately 8–15m tall and 4–8m wide, although pruning and container cultivation can keep it much smaller. **Flowering season:** Insignificant pollen cones appear in spring. Female plants may produce fleshy, berry-like seed structures later in the year. **Soil and light:** Best in fertile, moist but free-draining soil, in sun or partial shade. Shelter it from cold, drying winds; in colder parts of the UK, a protected position is advisable. **Watering:** Keep container-grown plants evenly moist, particularly during warm or windy weather, but never leave the roots waterlogged. Water occasionally during dry winter spells. **Feeding:** Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring. Container specimens may benefit from a liquid evergreen feed every four to six weeks from late spring to midsummer. **Pruning:** Trim new growth once or twice between late spring and late summer to maintain the cloud shape. Avoid cutting deeply into bare old wood unless small shoots are visible. Remove dead or crossing branches as required. Protect the container and roots during severe frost.