English Yew seeds

Habitat

native to Europe and northern parts of Africa
zone 6, zone 5 in protected sites
Habit and Form

large evergreen shrub or small tree
30′ to 50′ tall and 20′ wide
wide spreading, dense branches
dark green color
medium texture

Summer Foliage

spirally arranged needle-like leaves, appears to be two-ranked if grown in shade
0.5″ to 1.25″ long and up to 0.25″ wide, convexed and has a prominent midrib
dark green color to leaves
leave apex has a horny point
stems have brownish scales at base

Autumn Foliage

no fall color, evergreen
Flowers

not ornamentally important
dioecious
Fruit

solitary seeds, slightly compressed, round and flessy, red

Bark

flakey, furrowed reddish brown bark
older trunks are fluted
Culture

pH adaptable
prefers moist, well-drained, soil
does well in sun or shade
keep out of windswept sites
does not like extreme cold or extreme heat
transplants easily
Landscape Use

for parks
gardens
in shade
cultivars can be used as understory shrubs
hedges
screens
in groupings or mass plantings
topiary
decoration
Liabilities

toxic
not as cold hardy as other Taxus
strong winds can cause desiccation in winter months
Taxus scale
mealybugs
ID Features

dark green needles that end in a horny tip
wide spreading branches with spirally arranged needles
brown scales in stems
reddish brown flaking bark
red fleshy seeds
Propagation

cuttings root easily
seed propagtion can be done but is seldom used
Cultivars/Varieties

Various fastigiate and tree-like forms are commonly grown, but these plants are not well adapted to the New England climate. Those listed can be grown successfully into USDA zone 5.

‘Adpressa Fowle’ – This slow-growing plant was discovered by a Massachusetts nursery and appears to express tolerance for southern New England winters. It is a compact, mounded plant with short, thick dark green needles. It grows much wider than tall in time. This plant is also occasionally grafted to a standard to form a small tree.

‘Repandens’ -This is the most cold hardy form in common cultivation, probably due to genetic factors and the low habit that places much of the plant under snow cover in some winters. It is a low, spreading plant that seldome exceeds 4′ tall, but may spread to 15′ across in time. The tips of the branches are pendulous, while the lustrous green foliage in long and gradually tapers to a point.