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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Podocarpus macrophyllus Podocarpus macrophyllus
Rhododendron (PJM Group) Rhododendron (PJM Group)
Taxus cuspidata Taxus cuspidata
Taxus x media has some common insect problems:
Mealybugs
Taxus x media has some other problems:
Potato Late Blight

Taxus x media

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Taxus media
Phonetic Spelling
TAKS-us BY MEED-ee-uh
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

This species is an artificial hybrid between the English Yew, which has ornamental value and Japanese yews which are winter hardy.  Hybridization is said to have been accomplished in the early 1900's by T.D. Hatfield, a horticulturalist from Massachusetts.  This hybrid designation encompasses a variety of shrubby and wide spreading specimens ranging in height from 2' to 20'.  

One of the most common evergreen landscape shrubs, it grows in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade, but prefers sandy soils.  It does not tolerate wet conditions.  Locate in areas that provide protection from winter exposure.  It's height can be managed by pruning, which it will tolerate even the most severe pruning, and does well when shaping such as a topiary or a hedge.

Its buds are small, 1/8", scaly and overlap.  

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:  Failure to provide proper drainage can lead to root rot.  Needle and twig blight can affect the health of the plant.  Scale, mealybugs and weevils can be an occasional problem.

More information on Taxus.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Brownii'
    Male, no fruit, 9-12'.
  • 'Dark Green Spreader'
    Dark green foliage, 4-5'.
  • 'Densiformis'
    Semi-dwarf, 3-4' tall.
  • 'Everlow'
    Dwarf, 5' spread.
  • 'Flushing'
    Narrow, columnar habit, 12-15'.
  • 'Hatfieldii'
    Male, pyramidal-columnar habit, 12'.
  • 'Hicksii'
    Heights up to 20'.
  • 'Lutea'
    Heights up to 12'
  • 'Sentinalis'
    Narrow, columnar growth to 12'.
  • 'Tauntonii'
    Dense, spreading habit, 3-4'.
  • 'Wardii'
    Slow growth rate, 4' tall x 8' wide.
'Brownii', 'Dark Green Spreader', 'Densiformis', 'Everlow', 'Flushing', 'Hatfieldii', 'Hicksii', 'Lutea', 'Sentinalis', 'Tauntonii', 'Wardii'
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#drought tolerant#conifer#shade garden#winter interest#rabbit resistant#showy fruits#cpp#poisonous fruits#winter hardy#urban conditions tolerant#dry soils tolerant#winter garden#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#heat intolerant#poisonous to cats#poisonous to livestock#wet soils intolerant#poisonous if ingested
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Brownii'
    Male, no fruit, 9-12'.
  • 'Dark Green Spreader'
    Dark green foliage, 4-5'.
  • 'Densiformis'
    Semi-dwarf, 3-4' tall.
  • 'Everlow'
    Dwarf, 5' spread.
  • 'Flushing'
    Narrow, columnar habit, 12-15'.
  • 'Hatfieldii'
    Male, pyramidal-columnar habit, 12'.
  • 'Hicksii'
    Heights up to 20'.
  • 'Lutea'
    Heights up to 12'
  • 'Sentinalis'
    Narrow, columnar growth to 12'.
  • 'Tauntonii'
    Dense, spreading habit, 3-4'.
  • 'Wardii'
    Slow growth rate, 4' tall x 8' wide.
'Brownii', 'Dark Green Spreader', 'Densiformis', 'Everlow', 'Flushing', 'Hatfieldii', 'Hicksii', 'Lutea', 'Sentinalis', 'Tauntonii', 'Wardii'
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#drought tolerant#conifer#shade garden#winter interest#rabbit resistant#showy fruits#cpp#poisonous fruits#winter hardy#urban conditions tolerant#dry soils tolerant#winter garden#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#heat intolerant#poisonous to cats#poisonous to livestock#wet soils intolerant#poisonous if ingested
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Taxus
    Family:
    Taxaceae
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    United States
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds are attracted to the fruits.
    Play Value:
    Buffer
    Screening
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    Bark, leaves, seed pit (red, fleshy surrounding part, called the aril, is OK to eat)
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    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:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • 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 showy fruits are produced by female trees. Resembling berries, each fruit contains a single seed.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Oblong
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    The pointed evergreen foliage is olive to dark green. The undersides are a lighter green.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Surface/Attachment:
    Scaly
    Bark Description:
    The brown bark has a scaly surface.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The stem will remain green for two years, before turning brown.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heavy Shade
    Rabbits
    Urban Conditions
    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, 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