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 (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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- '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:
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-
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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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:
- 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
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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 showy, red, fleshy cones are produced by female trees. Each cone contains a single seed.
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- The brown bark has a scaly surface.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stem will remain green for two years, before turning brown.
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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
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-
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