Taxus baccata
English yew, Common yew, Yew
- Height × spread
- 0.45m – 10m × 0.3m – 30m
- Position
- All conditions
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
The yew is a British native which can survive for upwards of a thousand years. A yew in Wales has exceeded a lifespan of 5,000 years. The species, often in grown in fastigiate or coloured foliage forms, is a good garden ornamental even where space is restricted. There are a good number of interesting cultivars that include the flat-topped 'Dovastoniana' forms - in green and gold. There are low growing or creeping variants and compact mounded cultivars. Varieties include forms with very short needles and others that have gold tipped foliage. Yew is popular as a hedging plant, though it is poisonous if eaten and should never be grown on a boundary or where it could be browsed by livestock.
- Foliage colour
- Green, White, Yellow
- Fruit colour
- Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell, Column, Cube, Dome
- Height
- 0.45m – 10m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 30m
- Season of interest
- Winter
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Winter garden, Rock garden, Mediterranean garden
- Sun or shade
- All conditions
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam (normal), Poor soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Dry and shady soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Hedge, Topiary, Ground cover, Screening, Structural, Architectural, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction, Bird attraction
- Maintenance
- Some varieties are easycare (low/no maintenance)
- Hazards
- Yes, some poisonous
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Planting & general
Planting
Protect & support young trees
Attach a newly planted tree or tall shrub over 1m to a tree stake to give support and prevent windrock. Use a tree guard to stop tree bark being eaten by animals, especially in areas with deer - removing bark injures a tree and in worst case can kill it.
Found in
More Taxus
Taxus
Yew
Taxus 'Black Tower'
Yew
Taxus baccata
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Aureomarginata'
English yew, 'Fastigiata' (narrow) yew
Taxus baccata 'Bultinck Orange Beauty'
Dwarf English yew
Taxus baccata 'David'
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Davie'
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Dovastoniana'
Westfelton yew, Dovaston's yew, English yew, Common yew