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Taxus cuspidata

Japanese yew

A dense pyramid-shaped evergreen, which becomes rounded with age. Yew lends itself to both hedging or topiary. Male and female plants exist; females with red berries, males with pale yellow-green flowers. Tolerant of pollution

Synonyms

Taxus baccata var. cuspidata

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Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

20–50 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Taxaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Taxus are small evergreen trees or large shrubs of rounded habit, with dense, linear leaves, insignificant flowers and, on female plants, conspicuous fleshy red arils surrounding the solitary seeds
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well drained soil. Both male and female plants available - females will have red berries, males masses of pale yellow flowers making clouds of pollen. For more information of specialist uses of Yew see our advice page on hedges and topiary care.

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings or by sowing seed as soon as it is ripe, outdoors. For more advice see our information on how to propagate from seed (tree/shrub

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Low Maintenance
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1 if grown as a tree. As a hedge, Yew is pruned in late summer or more often for a very formal appearance. Yew is also suitable for topiary.

Pests

May be susceptible to tortrix moth, vine weevil, gall mites and scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to phytophthora root diseases

Get involved

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