English yew

Sun

Full sun to deep shade; growth is denser in good light. Shelter from drying winter winds, especially in colder parts of its range.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, allowing the surface soil to dry slightly between waterings. Established plants tolerate some drought but not persistently waterlogged roots.

Soil

Well-drained loam, chalk, clay or sandy soil, provided drainage is good. Tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions.

Height

30-60 ft (9-18 m) if left unpruned; readily maintained as a much shorter hedge.

Spread

20-30 ft (6-9 m) if left unpruned; old specimens can become broader.

Foliage

Evergreen. Flat, dark green needles with paler undersides, usually arranged in two ranks along side shoots. Female plants can bear red, cup-shaped arils surrounding individual seeds; male and female reproductive structures usually occur on separate plants.

Growth

Slow to moderate, commonly 6-12 in (15-30 cm) a year once established.

Care needed

Medium

• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two growing seasons; do not keep the root zone saturated.
• Plant with the root flare at ground level and avoid sites where water collects after rain.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak and soil fertility is poor.
• Collect all clippings promptly and keep them away from pets, horses and other livestock.

Pruning. Clip hedges and topiary in late summer, keeping the base slightly wider than the top. For major renovation, cut back in late winter or early spring before growth starts; yew can regrow from old wood, but restore a large hedge over several years.

Late winter

Inspect for damaged branches and carry out staged renovation pruning before new growth starts.

Spring

Refresh mulch and check newly planted trees and hedges for dry root balls.

Summer

Water establishing plants deeply during dry weather and inspect foliage for scale insects.

Late summer

Clip hedges and topiary after checking for active bird nests; collect every clipping.

Autumn

Plant where winters are mild and soil drains freely; remove unwanted seedlings beneath nearby shrubs.

Winter

Gently brush off heavy snow before it splays hedge branches, and keep de-icing salt away from roots.

• Use as a clipped boundary hedge to provide year-round screening and a dark backdrop for flower borders.
• Shape into cones, domes or other topiary forms to mark entrances and anchor formal paths.
• Plant behind pale flowers, silver foliage or ornamental grasses to make their colours and outlines clearer.
• Allow a specimen to develop naturally in a large garden or woodland edge, leaving room for its eventual broad crown.

Garden styles it suits: Formal, English country, Topiary garden, Woodland, Winter interest and English manor.

Plant it with: Hellebores, Snowdrops, Hardy cyclamen, Japanese anemones, Lady fern and Box.

Wildlife: Dense foliage provides shelter and nesting cover for birds. Birds eat the red arils and disperse the seeds. Male plants release windborne pollen rather than providing a useful nectar source.

• Waterlogging and Phytophthora root rot cause yellowing, browning and dieback: correct drainage, avoid overwatering and replace badly affected plants rather than replanting yew in the same wet spot.
• Vine weevil larvae can damage roots, especially in containers: check failing plants and use an appropriate biological nematode treatment when soil temperatures suit the product.
• Scale insects can cause sticky honeydew and sooty mould: remove small infestations by hand and use a locally approved treatment if needed, following the label.
• Winter wind, drought and salt can scorch foliage: water during dry periods when soil is unfrozen, shelter young plants and keep road salt away.

Highly toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses. Needles, twigs, bark and seeds contain poisons that can cause fatal heart disturbances; fresh and dried clippings remain dangerous. The red fleshy aril itself is not toxic, but the seed inside is, so do not eat the fruits. Keep yew and its clippings away from grazing animals, and seek urgent medical or veterinary help after suspected ingestion.

Where it spreads. Can escape cultivation and invade woodland in parts of the Pacific Northwest of the United States, including western Washington and western Oregon. Birds disperse its seeds; remove unwanted seedlings and check local planting guidance.

• Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata)

  Its needles generally end in a more abrupt, sharp point, while English yew needles taper more gradually. The species are very similar, and hybrids make identification from foliage alone uncertain.

• Japanese plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia)

  Usually has longer, broader needles with two conspicuous pale bands beneath. Female plants produce large, plum-like seed structures rather than yew's small red, open-topped arils.

Taxus is the Latin name for yew, and baccata means berry-bearing, referring to the red, berry-like arils.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or early autumn; rooting can be slow. Seed germination is also slow and irregular, often taking two years or longer, and seedlings do not reliably retain cultivar characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Taxus baccata

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Rus, Corse and Czechoslovakia.

Measured

Average height 1005 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.