Taxus chinensis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TAKS-us chi-NEN-sis
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The species was discovered by Scotsman, Augustine Henry in China around 1885-1886. The word chinensis refers to China.
If you are looking for an interesting evergreen for your landscape, Chinese yew, in the Taxaceae family, may be the answer. This small evergreen tree somewhat resembles a hemlock but grows only 10 feet in height. A specimen just outside the lath house at the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University is still performing magnificently after many years. You may actually be familiar with many other members of this family of trees but perhaps don’t realize it. Known by the common name of yews, they can be tree form, shrub-like, dwarf or prostrate in habit. Whatever the shape, all yews are narrow-leaved evergreens with needles about an inch long in two ranks that are spirally arranged along the green twigs. This tree is easy to root from cuttings, responds well to pruning, and is tolerant of heat, drought, sun and shade.
In its native country, it is used for construction, furniture building and wood carving. It is considered to be endangered, as it's stems and bark are harvested on a commercial basis for the treatment of cancer. However, propagation has increased to meet the demand.
Grown for foliage. The fruits of the Chinese yew are most distinctive. The yew produces a fleshy berry about the size of a pea and is open on one end to reveal a single, hard seed inside.
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: Leaf blight and fungal diseases can be an issue. It is a host plant for the walnut root lesion nematode.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Taxus
- Species:
- chinensis
- Family:
- Taxaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds eat the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Textural
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Red arils in small amounts are edible, seeds, bark, leaves are poisonous.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are a fleshy berry about the size of a pea. One end of the berry has an opening where its single seed can be observed.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The convex needles are flat, range in color from dark green, yellow-green to bronze.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- The bark is thin and exfoliates in strips or flakes. The color ranges from reddish to purple brown to gray.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- The thin stems are grooved along the leaf bases.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Nervousness, trembling, slow pulse, pupil dilation, difficult breathing, seizures (dogs), abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, convulsions; may be fatal Early signs: muscular tremors, dyspnea, seizures in dogs.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloid taxine
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Leaves
- Seeds
