Taxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow growing and can be very long-lived, reaching mature heights of 3 to 120 feet . They have reddish bark, lanceolate, flat, dark-green leaves that measure 0.4 to 1.6 inches long and 0.08 to 0.12 inch wide, arranged spirally on the stem, but with the leaf bases twisted to align the leaves in two flat rows either side of the stem. They develop soft, bright red berry-like structures called aril.
Yews, allowed to grow without pruning, develop into magnificent specimen plants, but they are most often used as formal hedges and for topiary work, while the prostrate and spreading kinds are effective ground covers. Yew is a great shrub for borders, entrance-ways, paths, specimen gardening, or mass plantings.
ALL parts of the plant are poisonous ESPECIALLY the arils (red fruit.) The seed is DANGEROUSLY poisonous.
Yews, allowed to grow without pruning, develop into magnificent specimen plants, but they are most often used as formal hedges and for topiary work, while the prostrate and spreading kinds are effective ground covers. Yew is a great shrub for borders, entrance-ways, paths, specimen gardening, or mass plantings.
ALL parts of the plant are poisonous ESPECIALLY the arils (red fruit.) The seed is DANGEROUSLY poisonous.
Yew Capitata
Pyramidal Yew
Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata'
Hardiness zone: 4B to 7A
Partial shade to full sun
- Not North American native
- Highly flammable
- Inconspicuous flowers or blooms
- Fruit is persistent
- Attractive fruit
- Multiple trunks
- Trunk has no thorns
- Trunk is showy
25' to 40'
Soil Condition:
Acidic, Clay, Loamy,
Neutral, Sandy,
Slightly alkaline, Well
drained, Acidic,
Slightly alkaline
Tolerates moderate
drought
Slow growth
rate
Taxus cuspidata
'Capitata'
15' to 20'
Grows in
moist soil
Pyramidal Yew
Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata'
Hardiness zone: 4B to 7A
Partial shade to full sun
- Not North American native
- Highly flammable
- Inconspicuous flowers or blooms
- Fruit is persistent
- Attractive fruit
- Multiple trunks
- Trunk has no thorns
- Trunk is showy
25' to 40'
Soil Condition:
Acidic, Clay, Loamy,
Neutral, Sandy,
Slightly alkaline, Well
drained, Acidic,
Slightly alkaline
Tolerates moderate
drought
Slow growth
rate
Taxus cuspidata
'Capitata'
15' to 20'
Grows in
moist soil
Yew Densiformis
Yew Green Wave
Yew Hatfield
Yew Hicksii
Yew Meyer
Yew Repandens