Spreading Plum-Yew Cephalotaxus harringtonia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sef-ah-loh-TAKS-us har-ring-TOH-nee-ah
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Japanese plum-yew is an evergreen, needled shrub or small tree in the yew family (Taxaceae) and native to Asia. Its name is derived from the Greek words kephale and taxus meaning "head" and "yew" respectively, in reference to the hard, round seeds. The specific epithet harringtonia was given in recognition of the Earl of Harrington who became an early adopter and enthusiast of the species in the early 19th century.
Ideal for the southeastern United States, as it tolerates both the summer heat and humidity unlike other yews, it has a broad, shrubby habit with horizontal branches but can also be trained into a small tree. This plant prefers moist, well-drained soil but tolerates dry, sandy, or clay soil. Plant it in full sun if you have cool summers; otherwise, it needs partial shade and tolerates shade better than most other needled evergreens. Once established this plant is drought and heat-tolerant and deer resistant. Its texture is medium to fine, and this yew is normally wider than tall, reaching a height of 5 to 10 feet tall and about as wide.
This plant is a conifer. The species is dioecious plant, female plants require at least one male plant to produce seeds. It produces single, naked seeds that have a fleshy coat and that are similar in appearance to plums, Although plum-like in appearance, the seeds are not edible. The seeds and foliage of all of the plants in this botanical group are generally quite poisonous if ingested but are not dangerous to handle. See this site for further information: JC Raulston Arboretum
Japanese plum-yew works well in a woodland or shade garden as an accent or planted in mass along a border. It makes an interesting change in the landscape from the typical junipers.
Quick ID Hints:
- Gymnosperm, linear leaves
- Two white, glaucous bands on underside
- Juvenile growth has leaves spirally arranged
- Adult growth has a V-shaped leaf pattern on branch
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Patio Room Hydrangeas in the Garden Sun and Shade Demonstration Garden, Buncombe County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Duke Gardens'
- 'Fastigiata'
Columnar, to 10' tall x 6-8' wide; branches strongly ascending; leaves juvenile, spirally arranged. - 'Korean Gold'
New needles yellow - 'Mary Fleming'
Prostrate, spreading, slow growing. Male cultivar
Low-growing, yellow needles - 'Fastigiata'
- 'Duke Gardens', 'Fastigiata', 'Korean Gold', 'Mary Fleming', 'Prostrata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Duke Gardens'
- 'Fastigiata'
Columnar, to 10' tall x 6-8' wide; branches strongly ascending; leaves juvenile, spirally arranged. - 'Korean Gold'
New needles yellow - 'Mary Fleming'
Prostrate, spreading, slow growing. Male cultivar
Low-growing, yellow needles - 'Fastigiata'
- 'Duke Gardens', 'Fastigiata', 'Korean Gold', 'Mary Fleming', 'Prostrata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cephalotaxus
- Species:
- harringtonia
- Family:
- Taxaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Assam, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant is particularly resistant to damage by deer.
- Edibility:
- Not edible. Potentially toxic.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 14 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Olive-like, red fleshy seeds. They appear on female plants resembling small (up to 1") plums, a fleshy aril nearly surrounding the green seed. Male cones are clustered on last season's branches, globular.
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Flowers:
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Description:
- Non-showy yellow pollen sacs enclosed in a cone on male plants. Female plants bear naked seeds.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Leaf Type:
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 0.5-1.2 in. feather-like needles, dark green leaves, linear with a sharp taper, spirally arranged in a v-shaped pattern. Lustrous underneath, holds color well in winter unless exposed to full sun and wind. Linear, spirally arranged (juvenile) to 2-ranked (adult) forming a V-shaped along branch, lower surface with 2 whitish glaucous bands.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Shade Tree
- Small Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- All plants in this botanical group are quite poisonous if ingested but are not dangerous to handle. Nervousness, trembling, slow pulse, pupil dilation, difficult breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, convulsions; seizures, sudden death from acute heart failure if eaten in quantity.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloid taxine, Volatile oil
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Leaves
- Seeds