What hardiness zones is Taxus brevifolia suitable for?

Taxus brevifolia is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

What are the sun requirements for Taxus brevifolia?

Taxus brevifolia requires Full Shade.

How much water does Taxus brevifolia need?

Taxus brevifolia has Low water needs.

Coniferous Trees

Taxus brevifolia

Pacific yew

Taxaceae

Alaska south through BC, Washington, Oregon, California, and northern Rocky Mountains; moist forest understories

At a Glance

TypeTree

HabitUpright

FoliageEvergreen

Height15-50 feet (4.6-15 m)

Width10-25 feet (3-7.6 m)

Maturity50 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 9

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

Zone 9

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

Maintenancevery low

Overview

A slow-growing, long-lived, evergreen coniferous tree to large shrub in the family Taxaceae, native to moist forest understories from Alaska south through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and into California and the northern Rocky Mountains — the only native yew of the Pacific Northwest and among the most shade-tolerant native conifers in the region. The specific epithet brevifolia means 'short-leaved.' Plants grow very slowly to 15–50 feet (4.6–15 m) in tree form. The foliage consists of flat, dark green needles 0.5–0.9 inch (12–23 mm) long arranged in two horizontal ranks, yellow-green on the underside. The most diagnostic character is the PAPERY, REDDISH-PURPLE TO ORANGE-BROWN EXFOLIATING BARK peeling in thin, irregular strips to reveal reddish-orange inner bark — no other native PNW conifer has this bark type. Taxus brevifolia is dioecious — female trees produce small seeds surrounded by a bright red, fleshy, cup-shaped aril 0.3–0.5 inch (8–12 mm) ripening August–October. CRITICAL TOXICITY: All parts except the red aril flesh contain taxine alkaloids — extremely toxic to humans, horses, dogs, and livestock. Even small quantities of needles can be lethal. Historically significant: paclitaxel (Taxol), a major cancer chemotherapy drug, was first isolated from this species.

Native Range

Native to moist forest understories from Alaska south through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and the northern Rocky Mountains.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a native evergreen understory tree or large shrub in Pacific Northwest forest garden plantings and shaded native landscapes at 10–20 foot (3–6 m) spacing. The exfoliating reddish-purple bark provides year-round ornamental interest. The red arils provide important late-summer and fall food for native birds including Townsend's solitaires, thrushes, and waxwings. The most shade-tolerant native PNW conifer for deep understory planting beneath large Douglas-fir and western hemlock. Of major educational and historical significance: paclitaxel (Taxol), a foundational cancer chemotherapy drug, was first isolated from Pacific yew bark. Toxicity must be prominently documented — keep away from livestock, horses, dogs, and accessible to children.

How to Identify

Identified as a slow-growing evergreen conifer with flat dark green needles 0.5–0.9 inch (12–23 mm) in two horizontal ranks, yellow-green beneath. Brevifolia = 'short-leaved.' The primary diagnostic character is the PAPERY, REDDISH-PURPLE TO ORANGE-BROWN EXFOLIATING BARK peeling in thin irregular strips to reveal reddish-orange inner bark — no other native PNW conifer has this bark type. DIOECIOUS: female trees produce small red fleshy cup-shaped ARILS 0.3–0.5 inch (8–12 mm) August–October. Most shade-tolerant native PNW conifer. ⚠️ CRITICAL TOXICITY: ALL parts except red aril flesh contain taxine alkaloids — EXTREMELY TOXIC to humans, horses, dogs, and cattle; small quantities of needles can be lethal.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 50'

Width/Spread10' - 25'

Reaches mature size in approximately 50 years

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring

Dioecious — male and female structures on separate trees. Male trees produce small, yellowish, pollen-bearing clusters in February–April. Female trees produce bright red, fleshy, cup-shaped arils 0.3–0.5 inch (8–12 mm) ripening August–October. The red arils are consumed by birds (especially thrushes and waxwings) that pass the seed intact and undamaged through their digestive system, dispersing seeds to new locations. TOXICITY: the seed inside the aril is toxic — only the fleshy red aril tissue itself is non-toxic.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

DIOECIOUS; red fleshy cup-shaped ARILS 0.3–0.5 inch Aug–Oct (female); yellow pollen structures Feb–Apr (male); bird-dispersed (thrushes/waxwings); historically significant: PACLITAXEL (TAXOL) first isolated from this bark; ⚠️ CRITICAL TOXICITY: taxine alkaloids in ALL parts except aril flesh — EXTREMELY TOXIC to humans/horses/dogs/cattle; DATA CORRECTIONS: species null; rewrote curly-brace prose

Foliage Description

dark green above, yellow-green beneath; flat needles 0.5–0.9 inch in two horizontal ranks; brevifolia = 'short-leaved'; PAPERY REDDISH-PURPLE TO ORANGE-BROWN EXFOLIATING BARK — peels in thin strips to reveal reddish-orange inner bark; no other native PNW conifer has this bark type; MOST SHADE-TOLERANT native PNW conifer

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Partial Shade

Full Shade

Tolerates up to 6 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamsandrocky

Drainage

well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

20-50 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in partial shade to full shade in well-drained to moist, acidic soil with a pH of 5.0–7.0. The most shade-tolerant native PNW conifer — thrives in deep forest understory conditions where other conifers cannot establish. Extremely slow-growing. Drought-tolerant once established. Does not tolerate waterlogged or poorly drained soils. CRITICAL TOXICITY: all parts except the fleshy red aril contain taxine alkaloids — extremely toxic to humans, horses, dogs, and livestock; keep animals away; do not plant where livestock can access.

Pruning

Minimal pruning required. Remove dead branches as needed. Can tolerate light shaping. Do not compost pruned material — all plant parts contain taxine alkaloids and should be disposed of carefully, not composted or left where animals can access.

Pruning Schedule

early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets and humans