Taxus spp.
yews
Overview
Taxus spp. is a genus of about 8 species of evergreen coniferous trees and shrubs in the family Taxaceae, native across the temperate Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, and North America. Plants range from low, spreading shrubs to trees 30 to 65 feet (9 to 20 m) tall, with reddish-brown bark that flakes in scales and a dense, dark canopy. The flat, linear leaves are 0.4 to 1.5 inches (1 to 4 cm) long, dark green above and paler beneath, arranged in two ranks along the shoots. Unlike most conifers, yews bear no woody cones; instead, most plants are male or female, and female plants carry single seeds each cupped in a fleshy, bright red, open-ended structure called an aril. Birds eat the aril and spread the seed. T. baccata of Europe and T. cuspidata of Japan, and their hybrid T. × media, are widely grown for hedging and topiary, as they tolerate hard clipping and shade. Yews are slow-growing and long-lived, some T. baccata surviving well over a thousand years. All parts except the red aril flesh contain highly poisonous taxine alkaloids.
Native Range
Native across the temperate Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, North Africa, much of Asia, and North America. T. baccata is European, T. cuspidata Japanese, T. brevifolia western North American, and others occur in China and the Himalayas.Suggested Uses
Planted as evergreen hedging, topiary, screens, and specimen trees, and as dark backdrops in formal gardens. Low and spreading cultivars are used as ground cover and foundation plantings. The dense evergreen canopy gives year-round structure and shelter for birds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 65'
Width/Spread5' - 25'
Reaches mature size in approximately 20 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark green, paler beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Taxus spp. species grow in full sun to deep shade on most well-drained soils, including chalk, but fail in waterlogged ground, which is the main cause of loss. They tolerate hard pruning, urban conditions, and a wide pH range from 5.5 to 7.5. Growth is slow, and plants are long-lived once established. T. baccata and T. × media withstand clipping into hedges and topiary and resprout from old wood, which few conifers do. All parts except the aril flesh contain taxine alkaloids that are poisonous to people and livestock.Pruning
Yews tolerate hard pruning and clipping at almost any time from spring to late summer, and they resprout readily from old, leafless wood. Hedges and topiary are trimmed once or twice a year to keep their shape. Overgrown plants are cut back hard over one or two seasons to renew them.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late springsummer
Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons