Yews, Latin name taxus, are a group of small coniferous trees and shrubs. They are relatively slow growing and often very long-lived, reaching mature heights of 3 to 120 feet. They have reddish bark and their yellow green to dark green leaves are tiny, flat, and linear, measuring 0.4 to 1.6 inches long and 0.08 to 0.12 inch wide. Yew leaves are arranged spirally on the stem and they develop soft, bright red berry-like structures called aril. If allowed to grow without pruning, yews develop into magnificent specimen plants. However, they are instead most often used as formal hedges or topiaries. The prostrate and spreading cultivars make effective ground covers. Overall, yews are a great shrub choice for borders, entranceways, paths, specimen gardening, or mass plantings.
Note: ALL parts of the plant are poisonous, except the arils (red fruit). The seed within the aril is DANGEROUSLY poisonous.
Note: ALL parts of the plant are poisonous, except the arils (red fruit). The seed within the aril is DANGEROUSLY poisonous.
Please contact the nursery for availability each season.
Capitata Taxus cuspidata
Zone: 4 to 7
Average Size: 30-40' Tall; Pyramidal form; Can be maintained at much smaller size with pruning
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: (Females only) Fleshy, light red berry (aril) surrounding hard seed in fall
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Notes: Not North American native; Highly flammable
Average Size: 30-40' Tall; Pyramidal form; Can be maintained at much smaller size with pruning
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: (Females only) Fleshy, light red berry (aril) surrounding hard seed in fall
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Notes: Not North American native; Highly flammable
Densiformis Taxus x media (Anglo-Japanese Yew)
Zone: 4 to 7
Average Size: 3-4' Tall, 4-6' Wide; Semi-dwarf, dense, shrub-like form
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: (Females only) Fleshy, light red berry (aril) surrounding hard seed in fall
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Average Size: 3-4' Tall, 4-6' Wide; Semi-dwarf, dense, shrub-like form
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: (Females only) Fleshy, light red berry (aril) surrounding hard seed in fall
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Deer Resistant: No
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Everlow Taxus x media
Zone: 4 to 7
Average Size: 1-2' Tall, 4-5' Wide; Dwarf, low-growing
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are deep blue green, tiny, flat, and linear; new growth is bright green
Fruit: None
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Average Size: 1-2' Tall, 4-5' Wide; Dwarf, low-growing
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are deep blue green, tiny, flat, and linear; new growth is bright green
Fruit: None
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Green Wave Taxus x media
Zone: 4 to 7
Average Size: 3-4' Tall, 6-8' Wide; Low, mounded, spreading habit
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear; distinctive, gracefully arching branches; new growth emerges bright green
Fruit: None
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Average Size: 3-4' Tall, 6-8' Wide; Low, mounded, spreading habit
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear; distinctive, gracefully arching branches; new growth emerges bright green
Fruit: None
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Hatfield Taxus x media 'Hatfieldii'
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Zone: 4 to 7
Average Size: 8-15' Tall, 5-10' Wide; Pyramidal form; Can be maintained with pruning Flower: Non-flowering Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are glossy, dark green, tiny, flat, and linear Fruit: None Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade Deer Resistant: No |
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Hick's/Hicksii Taxus x media 'Hicksii' (Anglo-Japanese Yew)
Zone: 4 to 7
Average Size: 10-20' Tall, 3-4' Wide or more; Columnar habit; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: (Females only) Fleshy, light red berry (aril) surrounding hard seed in fall
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Average Size: 10-20' Tall, 3-4' Wide or more; Columnar habit; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: (Females only) Fleshy, light red berry (aril) surrounding hard seed in fall
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Deer Resistant: No
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Irish Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata' or 'Stricta'
Zone: 6 to 8
Average Size: 15-30' Tall, 4-8' Wide; Narrow, columnar habit; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are a dense, rich, dark green and tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: (Females only) Fleshy, light red berry (aril) surrounding hard seed in late spring to summer
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Average Size: 15-30' Tall, 4-8' Wide; Narrow, columnar habit; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are a dense, rich, dark green and tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: (Females only) Fleshy, light red berry (aril) surrounding hard seed in late spring to summer
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Meyer Taxus x media 'Meyeri' (Anglo-Japanese Yew)
Zone: 4 to 7
Average Size: 10-12' Tall, 5-7' Wide; Compact, rounded habit; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Insignificant, tiny, gold or yellow and white blooms
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: None
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Average Size: 10-12' Tall, 5-7' Wide; Compact, rounded habit; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Insignificant, tiny, gold or yellow and white blooms
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: None
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Plum Fastigiata Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata'
Zone: 6 to 9
Average Size: 10' Tall, 5-7' Wide; Columnar habit; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Insignificant, tiny, gold or yellow and white blooms
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are glossy, finely textured, dark green, dense, tiny, flat, and linear and grow in bottlebrush-like form; new growth is bright yellow green
Fruit: (Females only) Ovate, brownish-purple berry
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Deer Resistant: Yes
Average Size: 10' Tall, 5-7' Wide; Columnar habit; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Insignificant, tiny, gold or yellow and white blooms
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are glossy, finely textured, dark green, dense, tiny, flat, and linear and grow in bottlebrush-like form; new growth is bright yellow green
Fruit: (Females only) Ovate, brownish-purple berry
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Deer Resistant: Yes
Repandens Taxus baccata 'Repandens' (English Yew)
Zone: 6 to 7
Average Size: 30-60' Tall, 15-25' Wide; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: None
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Average Size: 30-60' Tall, 15-25' Wide; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Non-flowering
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear
Fruit: None
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Taunton Taxus x media 'Tauntonii'
Zone: 4 to 7
Average Size: 3-4' Tall, 5-6' Wide; Spreading habit; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Insignificant, tiny, gold or yellow and white blooms
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear; new growth emerges lemony yellow
Fruit: None
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Noted for good resistance to winter burn and tolerance of summer heat
Average Size: 3-4' Tall, 5-6' Wide; Spreading habit; Can be maintained with pruning
Flower: Insignificant, tiny, gold or yellow and white blooms
Foliage: Needled evergreen. Leaves are dark green, tiny, flat, and linear; new growth emerges lemony yellow
Fruit: None
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Deer Resistant: No
Noted for good resistance to winter burn and tolerance of summer heat