ENH-782

Taxus baccata: English Yew1

Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson2

1. This document is ENH-782, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 1993. Revised December 2006. Reviewed February 2014. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; and Dennis G. Watson, former associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county’s UF/IFAS Extension office.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension.

IntroductionEnglish yew is most easily recognized in its trimmed form as dense hedges and screens, or shaped into topiary, but this dark green evergreen makes an outstanding specimen. If left to grow naturally, it reaches 20 to 25 feet in height with a spread of 15 to 20 feet in most situations. Plants grow slowly and have been known to reach heights of 50 feet. The shiny, very dark green leaves are 0.5 to 1.5 inches long. The attractive, reddish-brown trunk is often fluted and can become quite massive. The inconspicuous flowers appear in spring and are followed by the production of small, showy, red, fleshy fruits which contain one of the most poisonous seeds known, capable of poisoning both man and livestock. Taxine, the toxic chemical, is found in the leaves, bark, and hard part of the seed.

General InformationScientific name: Taxus baccataPronunciation: TACK-sus back-AY-tuhCommon name(s): English yewFamily: TaxaceaeUSDA hardiness zones: 5B through 7B (Fig. 2)Origin: not native to North AmericaInvasive potential: little invasive potentialUses: trained as a standard; hedge; screen; bonsai; deck or patio; specimen; Christmas treeAvailability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree

DescriptionHeight: 20 to 25 feetSpread: 15 to 20 feetFigure 1. Middle-aged Taxus baccata: English yew

Figure 2. Range

2Taxus baccata: English Yew

Crown uniformity: symmetricalCrown shape: roundCrown density: denseGrowth rate: slowTexture: medium

FoliageLeaf arrangement: alternate (Fig. 3)Leaf type: simpleLeaf margin: entireLeaf shape: linearLeaf venation: parallel, none, or difficult to seeLeaf type and persistence: evergreen, needled evergreenLeaf blade length: less than 2 inchesLeaf color: greenFall color: no color changeFall characteristic: not showy

FlowerFlower color: green, yellowFlower characteristics: not showy

FruitFruit shape: roundFruit length: less than .5 inchFruit covering: fleshyFruit color: redFruit characteristics: attracts birds; showy; fruit/leaves not a litter problem

Trunk and BranchesTrunk/bark/branches: branches don’t droop; very showy; typically multi-trunked; thornsPruning requirement: little requiredBreakage: resistantCurrent year twig color: greenCurrent year twig thickness: thinWood specific gravity: unknown

CultureLight requirement: full sun, partial sun, or partial shadeSoil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; slightly alkaline; acidic; well-drainedDrought tolerance: moderateAerosol salt tolerance: moderate

OtherRoots: not a problemWinter interest: noOutstanding tree: noOzone sensitivity: tolerantVerticillium wilt susceptibility: unknownPest resistance: sensitive to pests/diseases

Use and ManagementYew is used in the tree form primarily to create a screen, to develop into a topiary or to plant as a large clipped speci-men on a large estate or other large landscape. The dense crown makes it especially suited for a screen provided plants are located in full-day sun and they are given plenty of room to spread. If lateral space is limited, select one of the narrow, upright cultivars.

English Yew should be grown in full sun on well-drained, moist soil, acid, or alkaline.

Propagation is by seeds (with difficulty), cuttings, or grafting.

PestsTaxus mealybug, black vine weevil, taxus scale, and yew-gall midge can cause some damage.

DiseasesNo diseases are of major concern.

Figure 3. Foliage