Taxus baccata (English Yew, Irish Yew)

Michael's Opinion

Not typically used in North American gardens but some cultivars are occasionally seen. A long lived, dark green, almost foreboding evergreen. One of the narrow-formed cultivars worth a try as an accent tree.

Botanical Information

FamilyTaxaceae
GenusTaxus
Speciesbaccata
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (evergreen)
OriginNative to many places ranging from Europe to the Himalayas.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone6b - 7a
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone6b - 7
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH6
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-21 - (-15)
Temperature (°F)-5 - 5
Height10 - 20 m
Spread5 - 9 m
GrowthSlow
Flowering PeriodMarch

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionTaxus baccata is an evergreen tree with thin, flaky, scaly and furrowed bark and dark green leaves with lustrous uppers. The best specimens are found in old English graveyards.
ID CharacteristicDense branching with a broad, rounded or shrubby form. Foliage is dark green and bark is red-brown and furrowed. Needles are 1.25 - 2.5 cm long, usually spirally arranged.
ShapeThe outline is pyramidal.
LandscapeSpecimen, shade, and hedge.
PropagationUsually propagated from cuttings because they root very easily. Seedlings are seldom propagated due to relatively slow growth.
CultivationPrefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil with sand and loam. Grows well with other plants since it does not compete for nutrients. It has a strong fibrous root system which makes for easy transplanting.
PestsPossible problems include: Taxus mealybug and/or scale, black vine weevil and yew-gall midge. Phytophora can be problematic in damp, mild conditions. In severe winter the foliage is prone to desiccation or 'winter burn'.
Notable SpecimensWestonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England. Chelsea Physic Garden, London, United Kingdom. Stourhead Gardens, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.
HabitatUsually found in woods and shrub atop limestone.
Bark/Stem DescriptionUniquely reddish-brown, usually thin and furrowed. On mature plants the bark trunk often becomes scaly, flaky and fluted.
Leaf DescriptionNeedles have a black-green upper and yellow-green underside, 1 - 2.5 cm long with curved margins and a prominent midrib. They are spirally arranged, spreading in erect shoots.
Flower DescriptionDioecious, male strobili (cones) arise from leaf axils on the bottom of branchlets of the previous year's growth. Each branchlet consists of 6 - 14 stamens with short filaments.
Fruit DescriptionFruit are olive-brown, about 5 mm long, usually biangular (rarely triangular or quadrangular). The seed-covering (arial) is red and rounded.
Texture DescriptionA fine to medium textured plant.

Photographs