Common Name:Yew

Scientific Name: Taxus spp.

Yew Upright Growth	Yew Irregular, Spreading Growth Habit

Classification: Evergreen         USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-7

Size:

• Width and height variable

Growth Habit:

• Irregular, spreading or upright growth habit
• Dense shrub or small tree
• Slow growth rate

Bark:

• Young stems are green
• With age turning red to red-brown and becoming scaly

Yew - Fine Texture	Oblong, Slender Foliage

Foliage:

• Evergreen
• Linear to oblong leaf shape
• Long and slender
• Often 1 to 1.5" long x 1/8" wide
• Deep, dark green above, yellow green beneath
• Fine texture

Inflorescence: 

• Dioecious
• Not showy

Yew - Red Fruit

Fruit:

• Fleshy cup, open at one end, containing an oval-shaped seed
• Pinkish red

Yew Formal Hedge	Yew Topiary	Yew Informal Shrub	Yew Irish Yew (sides) Formal Hedge (foreground)

Use:

• Informal shrub
• Formal hedge

Problems:

• None serious

Culture:

• Full sun or deep shade
• Prefer moist well-drained soils
• Tolerates
  • Poor soils
  • Drought
  • Some pollution

Propagation:

• Seed
• Hardwood cuttings

Notes:

• All plant parts are poisonous
• Excellent for formal hedging
• Interesting species and cultivars exist
• Hard, straight stiff stems of Irish yew used to make arrow shafts in ancient times