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Taxus

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
TAKS-us
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Yews are evergreen shrubs or trees in the yew family (Taxaceae) with alternately arranged needles and axillary, red, fleshy cones that nearly surrounding the seed. They are native to a wide area of eastern North America, western North America (including Alaska), Europe, and central and eastern Asia, with outliers in Mexico and Central America, Florida, North Africa, Sumatra and islands of Malesia. They are not native to South America or Australia.

Yews are dioecious conifers. Male plants produce small, pollen-producing cones. Female plants produce single-seeded, fleshy cones that develop into naked seeds partially covered by showy red arils. The aril is a fleshy outgrowth of the stalk that bears the seed. The seed+aril resembles a berry. Birds eat the arils and disperse the seeds. A male needs to be planted nearby for fertilization and production of the arils. 

In hardiness zones 4 and lower, the foliage can burn or turn brown in the winter months. When planted in warmer climates above zone 8, the plant can languish in the mild winter.

Yews can withstand heavy pruning and are used as a foundation plants, hedges, topiaries, screens, and shrubs. Regular annual pruning will help keep the desired shape and density. Protect from strong winds that over a period of time can push the plant out of the desired shape. The optimum planting location includes part sun and part shade. Too much shade will decrease the growth rate, while too much sun can result in the plant drying out. This is especially crucial with young plants.

It will grow in most soils, however the proper pH is important.  A slightly acid soil is preferred, while soils high in acid will not provide optimum growing conditions.  

This plant has poison characteristics, see below.

Quick ID

  • Shrubs with spirally-arranged, short, green linear leaves with two flat rows of needles
  • Female plants with red arils

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:  Root rot, brown scale and other fungal diseases can occur when proper drainage is not provided.  Insects such as lice, mites and black vine weevil can cause issues.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Taxus baccata
    Wide spreading, densely branched with many forms
  • Taxus baccata 'Amersfoort'
    Dwarf shrub with irregular habit
  • Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'
    Narrow and columnar
  • Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Aureomarginata'
    New growth is yellow
  • Taxus baccata 'Repandens'
    Dwarf, 2-4' tall, wide spread
  • Taxus baccata 'Repandens Aurea'
    Variegated and low growing
  • Taxus baccata 'Standishii'
    Compact with upright shoots, yellow/gold leaves
  • Taxus brevifolia Taxus brevifolia
  • Taxus brevifolia 'Erecta'
    Columnar form
  • Taxus brevifolia 'Nana'
    Dwarf form
  • Taxus brevifolia 'Nuttalii'
    Drooping form
  • Taxus canadensis Form
  • Taxus canadensis 'Stricta'
    Columnar form
  • Taxus chinensis Form
  • Taxus contorta
  • Taxus cuspidata Taxus cuspidata
  • Taxus cuspidata 'Aurescens'
    New growth is golden
  • Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata'
    Pyramidal habit
  • Taxus cuspidata 'Columnaris'
    Narrow habit
  • Taxus cuspidata 'Dwarf Bright Gold'
    Dwarf habit, new foliage is golden
  • Taxus cuspidata 'Nana'
    Draft habit
  • Taxus floridana
  • Taxus globosa
  • Taxus x hunnewelliana
    Cross between Japanese and Canadian yew
  • Taxus x hunnewelliana 'Globosa'
    Globe shape
  • Taxus x hunnewelliana 'Richard Horsey'
    Dwarf habit
  • Taxus x media Taxus x media
    Cross between English and Canadian yew
  • Taxus x media 'Brownii'
    Rund habit
  • Taxus x media 'Densiformis'
    Spreading habit, wider than tall
  • Taxus x media 'Hicksii'
    Columnar form
  • Taxus x media 'Tauntonii'
    Spreading habit, wider than tall
Taxus baccata, Taxus baccata 'Amersfoort', Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata', Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Aureomarginata', Taxus baccata 'Repandens', Taxus baccata 'Repandens Aurea', Taxus baccata 'Standishii', Taxus brevifolia, Taxus brevifolia 'Erecta', Taxus brevifolia 'Nana', Taxus brevifolia 'Nuttalii', Taxus canadensis, Taxus canadensis 'Stricta', Taxus chinensis, Taxus contorta, Taxus cuspidata, Taxus cuspidata 'Aurescens', Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata', Taxus cuspidata 'Columnaris', Taxus cuspidata 'Dwarf Bright Gold', Taxus cuspidata 'Nana', Taxus floridana, Taxus globosa, Taxus x hunnewelliana, Taxus x hunnewelliana 'Globosa', Taxus x hunnewelliana 'Richard Horsey', Taxus x media, Taxus x media 'Brownii', Taxus x media 'Densiformis', Taxus x media 'Hicksii', Taxus x media 'Tauntonii'
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#drought tolerant#shrub#conifer#tsc#poisonous fruits#dioecious#fantz#evergreen shrub#evergreen tree#tsc-cg#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#shrub borders#wet soils intolerant#hedge#long lived#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Taxus baccata
    Wide spreading, densely branched with many forms
  • Taxus baccata 'Amersfoort'
    Dwarf shrub with irregular habit
  • Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'
    Narrow and columnar
  • Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Aureomarginata'
    New growth is yellow
  • Taxus baccata 'Repandens'
    Dwarf, 2-4' tall, wide spread
  • Taxus baccata 'Repandens Aurea'
    Variegated and low growing
  • Taxus baccata 'Standishii'
    Compact with upright shoots, yellow/gold leaves
  • Taxus brevifolia Taxus brevifolia
  • Taxus brevifolia 'Erecta'
    Columnar form
  • Taxus brevifolia 'Nana'
    Dwarf form
  • Taxus brevifolia 'Nuttalii'
    Drooping form
  • Taxus canadensis Form
  • Taxus canadensis 'Stricta'
    Columnar form
  • Taxus chinensis Form
  • Taxus contorta
  • Taxus cuspidata Taxus cuspidata
  • Taxus cuspidata 'Aurescens'
    New growth is golden
  • Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata'
    Pyramidal habit
  • Taxus cuspidata 'Columnaris'
    Narrow habit
  • Taxus cuspidata 'Dwarf Bright Gold'
    Dwarf habit, new foliage is golden
  • Taxus cuspidata 'Nana'
    Draft habit
  • Taxus floridana
  • Taxus globosa
  • Taxus x hunnewelliana
    Cross between Japanese and Canadian yew
  • Taxus x hunnewelliana 'Globosa'
    Globe shape
  • Taxus x hunnewelliana 'Richard Horsey'
    Dwarf habit
  • Taxus x media Taxus x media
    Cross between English and Canadian yew
  • Taxus x media 'Brownii'
    Rund habit
  • Taxus x media 'Densiformis'
    Spreading habit, wider than tall
  • Taxus x media 'Hicksii'
    Columnar form
  • Taxus x media 'Tauntonii'
    Spreading habit, wider than tall
Taxus baccata, Taxus baccata 'Amersfoort', Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata', Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Aureomarginata', Taxus baccata 'Repandens', Taxus baccata 'Repandens Aurea', Taxus baccata 'Standishii', Taxus brevifolia, Taxus brevifolia 'Erecta', Taxus brevifolia 'Nana', Taxus brevifolia 'Nuttalii', Taxus canadensis, Taxus canadensis 'Stricta', Taxus chinensis, Taxus contorta, Taxus cuspidata, Taxus cuspidata 'Aurescens', Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata', Taxus cuspidata 'Columnaris', Taxus cuspidata 'Dwarf Bright Gold', Taxus cuspidata 'Nana', Taxus floridana, Taxus globosa, Taxus x hunnewelliana, Taxus x hunnewelliana 'Globosa', Taxus x hunnewelliana 'Richard Horsey', Taxus x media, Taxus x media 'Brownii', Taxus x media 'Densiformis', Taxus x media 'Hicksii', Taxus x media 'Tauntonii'
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#drought tolerant#shrub#conifer#tsc#poisonous fruits#dioecious#fantz#evergreen shrub#evergreen tree#tsc-cg#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#shrub borders#wet soils intolerant#hedge#long lived#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Taxus
    Family:
    Taxaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia, North America, Central America, North Africa
    Play Value:
    Buffer
    Easy to Grow
    Screening
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fleshy seeds are hidden in the foliage until autumn, when they turn a bright red.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate & spirally arranged, linear, and subcoriaceous. They are dark green, glossy, abruptly acute & pointed, paler green below with 2 yellowish-green bands.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Scaly
    Bark Description:
    The reddish-brown, thin bark will become scaly and or fibrous.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The hairless stems appear in an alternate form. New stems are green, and become a reddish-brown as they mature.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Garden for the Blind
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Barrier
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    Nervousness, trembling, slow pulse, pupil dilation, seizures (dogs), difficult breathing, 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
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Seeds