Taxus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TAKS-us
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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:
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- 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 'Erecta'
Columnar form - Taxus brevifolia 'Nana'
Dwarf form - Taxus brevifolia 'Nuttalii'
Drooping form
Taxus canadensis
- Taxus canadensis 'Stricta'
Columnar form
Taxus chinensis
- Taxus contorta
- 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 '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
Cross between English and Canadian yew - Taxus baccata
- 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:
- 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 'Erecta'
Columnar form - Taxus brevifolia 'Nana'
Dwarf form - Taxus brevifolia 'Nuttalii'
Drooping form
Taxus canadensis
- Taxus canadensis 'Stricta'
Columnar form
Taxus chinensis
- Taxus contorta
- 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 '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
Cross between English and Canadian yew - Taxus baccata
- 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:
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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
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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
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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:
- 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
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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.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- The reddish-brown, thin bark will become scaly and or fibrous.
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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.
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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
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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