Plant DetailShow Menu

Plants that fill a similar niche:
Rhododendron (PJM Group) Rhododendron (PJM Group)
Taxus brevifolia Taxus brevifolia
Taxus cuspidata Taxus cuspidata
Taxus x media has some common insect problems:
Mealybugs
Pests of Conifers

Foundation Yew Taxus x media

Other 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 (Taxus baccata), which has ornamental value, and the Japanese yew (T. cuspidata), which is 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, columnar, or spreading growth forms. Numerous named cultivars are available.

Among  the most common evergreen landscape shrubs, these grow best in well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. These yews prefer sandy or loamy soils and do not tolerate wet conditions. They are drought tolerant. Plant these shrubs in areas that provide protection from winter exposure. Most varieties do well in urban conditions. Their height, which varies by cultivar, can be managed by pruning. They will tolerate even the most severe pruning, and do well with being shaped into topiary or hedges. Individuals vary in height from 2 feet to 20 feet, and in width from 2 feet to 12 feet. 

The female plants produce single-seeded cones. If a male plant is nearby and produces pollen, the fertilized female cone will develop into a red, fleshy, cup-like aril that partially surrounds a seed. Birds eat the aril and disperse the seed.

Use these shrubs as foundation plants, hedges, topiaries, screens, and undergrowth shrubs. They also work well as individual specimens in lawn or patio plantings or along walkways.

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.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

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#poisonous fruits#winter hardy#urban conditions tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#winter garden#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#heat intolerant#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#poisonous fruits#winter hardy#urban conditions tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#winter garden#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#heat intolerant#poisonous to livestock#wet soils intolerant#poisonous if ingested
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Taxus
    Family:
    Taxaceae
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Artificial hybrid
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds are attracted to the red, fleshy arils of the female cones.
    Play Value:
    Buffer
    Screening
    Wildlife Food Source
    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 Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The showy, red, fleshy cones are produced by female trees. Each cone 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:
    Asian Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Garden for the Blind
    Rock 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