Irish yew

Sun

Full sun to shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; established plants tolerate some drought but dislike waterlogged soil.

Soil

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

Height

15-30 ft (4.5-9 m)

Spread

6-12 ft (1.8-3.7 m)

Foliage

Dark green, flattened evergreen needles arranged around upright shoots; dense and columnar when young, becoming broader with age.

Growth

Slow, commonly about 6-12 in (15-30 cm) a year once established; slower in shade or poor conditions.

Care needed

Low

• Drought tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.1 m)

3. After 2 years

   8 ft (2.3 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

5. After 5 years

   9 ft (2.7 m)

About 32 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

the UK

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two growing seasons, allowing the surface soil to dry between waterings.
• Plant with the root flare at soil level; avoid wet hollows and sites with standing winter water.
• 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; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Gently brush off heavy snow before it splays the upright branches; do not strike frozen foliage.

Pruning. Remove damaged branches in late winter or early spring, and lightly trim new growth in late spring or summer if a tighter outline is needed. Yew can regrow from old wood, but spread major renovation over several years and check for nesting birds before cutting.

Late winter

Remove broken or dead branches and carry out any necessary structural pruning.

Spring

Refresh mulch and check that soil drains freely around the roots.

Late spring

Lightly trim new growth if maintaining a formal column or clipped screen.

Summer

Water young plants deeply during dry weather and inspect weak plants for scale or root problems.

Autumn

Plant where winters are mild and soil is well drained; remove unwanted seedlings.

Winter

Check for snow-splayed branches and water newly planted specimens during frost-free dry spells.

• Plant matching specimens beside an entrance or path for a formal, vertical frame.
• Use as a dark evergreen backdrop to pale flowers, silver foliage or winter stems.
• Repeat columns through a border to provide structure when perennials die back.
• Clip into upright topiary or a dense screen, allowing room for the plants to broaden with age.

Garden styles it suits: Formal, Topiary garden, Architectural minimal, English country, Grand estate and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Hellebores, Snowdrops, Japanese anemones, Hardy geraniums, Hydrangeas and Boxwood.

Wildlife: Dense evergreen growth offers shelter and nesting sites for birds. Birds eat the red arils and disperse the seeds; check for occupied nests before pruning.

• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage before planting; replace badly affected plants rather than repeatedly watering or feeding them.
• Vine weevil: larvae can damage roots, especially in containers; use locally approved biological controls when soil temperatures suit them.
• Scale insects: inspect stems and needle undersides; prune out small infestations or use a labelled horticultural oil according to local guidance.
• Winter scorch or snow damage: shelter young plants from drying winds, water before prolonged freezes if soil is dry, and gently remove heavy snow.

Highly toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses. Needles, shoots, bark and seeds contain toxins that can cause fatal heart disturbances; dried clippings remain dangerous. The red fleshy aril is the exception, but the seed inside is toxic, so do not eat it or allow children or animals to do so. Keep all pruning waste away from livestock and seek urgent medical or veterinary help after suspected ingestion.

• Hicks yew (Taxus × media 'Hicksii')

  Also upright and dark green, but generally forms a broader hedge-like outline; needles are often more clearly arranged in two ranks. Cultivar labels are more reliable than appearance alone.

• Golden Irish yew (Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Aurea')

  Has a similar upright habit, but young needles have conspicuous yellow colouring or margins rather than being uniformly dark green.

• English yew (Taxus baccata)

  Ordinary seedlings usually develop spreading branches and a broad crown, unlike the closely upright branching of Irish yew.

Irish yew takes its common name from its origin in Ireland, while 'Fastigiata' refers to its closely upright branches.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings from upright shoots in late summer or early autumn; rooting can be slow. Seedlings do not reliably retain the cultivar's narrow habit, so use cuttings to reproduce it.

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.