Taxus brevifolia
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Taxus baccata ssp. brevifolia
- Taxus baccatra var. brevifolia
- Taxus boursieri
- Taxus lindleyana
- Phonetic Spelling
- TAKS-us brev-ee-FOH-lee-uh
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Pacific Yew is an evergreen conifer native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. Its native locations include dense forests, along stream banks, slopes, ravines, coves and flats.
The timber from this tree is heavy, hard and strong. Although it has minimal commercial use, it is often used for making fence posts, tool handles and canoe paddles. It's an excellent choice for articles that are turned on a lathe, and takes a finish well.
Has been referred to as 'bow plant'. It's durable, elastic texture made it a great choice when making bows. It was also used by Native Americans in battle to make spear handles and clubs. Harpoons used for hunting seals was another use for the wood.
In England, history referred to this tree as the 'graveyard tree' due to its toxic nature. Its red fruits are especially attractive to children and livestock. It's said that it has been used as a means of suicide during wartimes.
When growing in dense forested locations, where a closed canopy exists, it will grow as a tree. In dryer, more open spaces its habit will be more like a shrub. In these instances, it can form broad mats that will grow much wider than tall.
It has evergreen needles and bright red fruits. It grows as an understory in fir, hemlock, and vine maple forests. In some locations it can be found covered with moss and/or lichens.
The foliage is poisonous when consumed by horses and cattle. This is particularly an issue when the foliage is allowed to rot.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This very slow growing conifer has been known to rot from the inside, which in turn creates a hollow tree.
Needle blight and root disease are diseases that can affect the plants health. Insect issues include grape mealybug, bud worm and Asiatic beetle.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Taxus
- Species:
- brevifolia
- Family:
- Taxaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is strong and resists decay is used to make fence posts, canoe paddles, tool handles. Native Americans used the wood to make spear handles, harpoons, poles, and eating utensils. It was used by the Salish people to make bows and is still used in bow making today.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Alaska to western U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AK, CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer, elk, and moose browse on this plant. Fruits are enjoyed by songbirds. It is a host plant for the Mottled Gray Carpet, Common Eupithacia and the Fall Webworm moths.
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Shade
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a fleshy oblong berry-like cone that contains one seed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The small, yellow, male flowers are found on the underside of the foliage.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The flat needles arranged in a spiral fashion around the stem. They are a yellow-green on the upper side and a lighter green on the underside. The tips of the needles are a sharp, slender point.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- The bark is thin and scaly, with the outer scales purplish to purple-brown, the inner scales are red to red-purple.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Screen/Privacy
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade
- Wind
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses