Description
Taxus baccata – English Yew
Quality: 2/2 P 18-24
Short description: The English Yew is the queen of native conifers – dark green, shade-tolerant, extremely long-lived, and equally suited to formal and natural gardens. As a hedging plant, it is unrivaled: dense, tolerant of pruning, and fully functional even in deep shade. The bright red fruits (arils) are a valuable winter food for birds – Caution: all other parts of the plant are highly toxic to humans and many animals.
Climatic characteristics & site conditions: The English Yew is naturally native to Southern Germany, but occurs rarely in the wild as it was heavily decimated by browsing and historical logging. It tolerates low temperatures without issue and is hardy in all Southern German locations. Its shade tolerance is particularly valuable – it thrives under mature trees where few other woody plants grow. It is sensitive to waterlogged soils; drainage is important.
Advantages: Extremely shade-tolerant, excellent as a hedging plant, very long-lived, native, fruits as bird food, versatile for shaping, drought-tolerant once established.
Disadvantages: All plant parts except the red fruit flesh are highly toxic – not a suitable plant for gardens with small children or grazing animals, slow growth, sensitive to waterlogging, browsing by wildlife is a persistent problem.
