Yew Taxus x media
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Yew:
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.
- 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'
- 'Brownii', 'Dark Green Spreader', 'Densiformis', 'Everlow', 'Flushing', 'Hatfieldii', 'Hicksii', 'Lutea', 'Sentinalis', 'Tauntonii', 'Wardii'
- Tags:
- 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'
- 'Brownii', 'Dark Green Spreader', 'Densiformis', 'Everlow', 'Flushing', 'Hatfieldii', 'Hicksii', 'Lutea', 'Sentinalis', 'Tauntonii', 'Wardii'
- Tags:
-
-
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
