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Yews · Taxus

Yews · Taxus

Taxus baccata · Taxus × media

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Profile

Plant group
Yews · evergreen conifers
Growth & habit
A densely branched shrub or long-lived tree. Columnar, ground-covering and spreading forms differ markedly from a clipped hedge.
Foliage
Flat evergreen needles. New shoot tips often look lighter; individual older needles are replaced over time.
Family
Yew family · Taxaceae
Origin
T. baccata: Europe, western Asia and northern Africa; T. × media is a garden hybrid
Height
Varies with cultivar and pruning, from low forms to trees exceeding 10 m
Bloom
Inconspicuous flowers usually March–April; red arils appear later on female plants
Toxicity
Yews are highly poisonous. Do not eat needles, wood or seeds; keep all clippings away from children, pets and grazing animals.

Care calendar

Leaf emergence

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Lighter new growth extends the shoots in spring and early summer.

Flowering / flower development

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Inconspicuous male and female flowers usually occur on separate plants.

Leaf fall

No complete autumn needle fall. Individual older needles are renewed; investigate extensive browning separately.

Pruning & growth habit

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Light shaping in summer to early autumn. Plan major renovation separately and observe local wildlife protection requirements.

Guidance for Germany and Central Europe. Position, weather, species and cultivar shift these windows; indoor and container plants also depend on their winter conditions.

Your seasonal care plan

  • Check moisture, not just dates

    Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec

    Match watering to species, season and root space. Maintain drainage and distinguish drought from waterlogging.

  • Match nutrients to need

    Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep

    Feed during active growth where nutrients need supplementing. The linked fertiliser gives its exact dilution; account for initial fertiliser in the compost.

    View product dosage and application →

  • Refresh the root space

    Mar · Apr · May

    Increase pot size only when needed, maintain planting depth and ensure drainage. The linked tree and shrub compost already contains nutrients.

    View product dosage and application →

  • Respect winter conditions

    Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar

    Protect containers from deep freezing. For evergreen yews, check root-ball moisture on frost-free winter days.

Highlighted months are guidance, not fixed dates. Observe the plant, root ball and weather; water, feed and repot according to actual need.

Seasonal care intensity

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Seasonal guidance for Germany. Needs depend on location, weather and species. Check moisture in winter too; these markers are not a feeding schedule.

Peak care Active Reduced care

Care tips

  • Calendar for Germany/Central Europe; species, cultivar and weather affect timing.
  • Choose a hedging form suited to the intended height. T. × media ‘Hicksii’ is a hybrid cultivar, not a T. baccata cultivar. All yews retain their needles through winter.

Seeds & cones

Seed formation

Female yews produce individual seeds partly enclosed by a red fleshy aril. This berry-like structure is not a true berry; male plants carry pollen cones.

Use

Not a food crop. The seeds are highly poisonous. Do not treat the red aril as an invitation to snack: there remains a risk of ingesting seeds or other poisonous plant parts.

Plant knowledge at a glance

Position, benefits & character

Position & soil

Sun through shade with freely draining soil. Established yews tolerate varied soils; young plants and containers must neither dry out nor remain waterlogged.

Distinctive features

Yews tolerate regular shaping and can regrow from older wood. An old specimen tree has a very different character from a geometric topiary.

Benefits

Year-round screening, a calm backdrop for perennials and shelter for birds. Female plants carry red arils, but the seeds inside remain poisonous.

Partners & symbioses

Birds use dense branches for shelter and may disperse seeds. This is an ecological relationship; routine care does not require adding a specific root partner.

Pruning & growth habit

Choose a hedging form suited to the intended height. T. × media ‘Hicksii’ is a hybrid cultivar, not a T. baccata cultivar. All yews retain their needles through winter.

  1. 1. Check nests and purpose

    Check for occupied nests before cutting. Distinguish light shaping from a renovation programme over several years.

  2. 2. Keep the hedge wider at its base

    Keep the top slightly narrower than the base so light can reach lower growth. Use a line or template for a steady outline.

  3. 3. Trim new growth evenly

    Use clean sharp shears to follow the desired outline. Postpone in heat, frost or when the plant is very dry.

  4. 4. Stage renovation

    Yews can regrow from old wood but need recovery time. Reduce an oversized hedge in stages over several years.

Nursery forms

This overview explains nursery supply forms. It does not indicate current availability in the GREEN24 shop.

Bare-root

Ask a specialist nursery

Bare-root plants only where explicitly offered; protect exposed roots.

Root-balled

Ask a specialist nursery

May be available for larger nursery plants; keep the root ball intact.

Container-grown

Common form

Rooted potted or container plants; check roots and the label.

Young plant

Common form

Young plants need time to reach the desired size.

Shrub

Common form

A multi-stemmed form branching near the base.

Feathered tree

Ask a specialist nursery

A feathered tree with a central stem and retained side branches.

Half-standard

Ask a specialist nursery

A crown on a shorter clear stem; compare supplied stem heights.

Standard

Ask a specialist nursery

A crown on a taller stem; allow for stability and space.

Topiary

Ask a specialist nursery

Trained or clipped forms need suitable ongoing maintenance.

Propagation & grafting

Propagation

Species can be grown from seed; named forms are often raised from semi-ripe cuttings. Seedlings may differ from the parent’s habit and develop slowly.

Grafting

Special forms may be grafted. Hedging plants and clipped figures are not automatically grafts; check the nursery description.

Species & cultivars

Taxus baccata

European yew, grown as a specimen tree, hedge or clipped form.

Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’

An upright columnar form whose branches may spread with age.

Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’

Low and spreading, useful for ground-covering planting rather than tall hedges.

Taxus × media ‘Hicksii’

An upright hybrid cultivar frequently sold for hedging.

Pests & diseases

These signs support an initial assessment. Different causes may look alike; choose a treatment only after identifying the problem.

Wetness and root disease

For extensive browning, check drainage and roots. Phytophthora root disease is one possible cause requiring a reliable diagnosis.

Inspect needles and shoots

Identify scale insects, mites or unusual webbing. One generic spray does not suit every symptom.

Consider winter drought

Evergreen needles lose water in winter too. Check containers during frost-free weather without saturating the root ball.

Hardiness · USDA

Species-dependent

The examples distinguish English yew from the hybrid Taxus × media. Cultivar, location and well-drained soil remain important for overwintering.

Taxus baccata
USDA 6a–7b
Taxus × media
USDA 4a–7b

USDA zones describe long-term average winter extremes. Containers, young plants, wet soil, wind and late frost need separate consideration.

Understand USDA zones and maps →

A closer look

European yew bark
Bark

European yew bark

Reddish-brown, peeling bark on an older Taxus baccata trunk. Reduced-size, uncropped version.

Adrian Tync · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image source

Botanical features vary with age, species and cultivar.

Matching GREEN24 products

Matching fertilisers and substrates for your plant care.