Taxus baccata
Yew
Common names: English Yew
Photo: Sitomon · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source
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Description
The common yew (Taxus baccata) is a native, evergreen conifer and one of the longest‑lived shrubs in Europe—individual specimens can reach several hundred years old. In gardens it is used as a trimmed hedge, formal shrub, or solitary plant; its exceptional pruning tolerance makes it the first choice for topiary and formal design. Cultivars such as Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ (columnar yew) or ‘Repandens’ (spreading) provide very different spatial effects. In autumn the red seed husks (arils) glow and attract birds.
Care instructions
The yew tolerates a wide range of light conditions, thriving from full sun to deep shade, but it requires a fresh, humus‑rich soil that does not stay waterlogged—preferably with some lime. Prune once a year in May or June; for dense hedges a second, lighter cut in late summer can be beneficial. Newly planted plants should be watered regularly during the first years, after which they cope well with normal rainfall. The plant tolerates heavy pruning down to old wood and reliably regrows.
Soil & site
Diseases & pests
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