Taxus baccata - yew

Taxus baccata - yew

Other names:

• Yew

• Common yew

• English yew

Family - Taxaceae | Genus - Taxus 

Flower:

• February

Soil:

• Good drainage

• Clay, Loam, Sand, Chalk

• Acid, Neutral, Alkaline

Height:

• Up to 12m but depends on training

Identifying Features:

• Evergreen

• Dark leaves

• Red fruit produced by the female plant

About

The English Yew is normally found in the south of England forming part of beech woodland. It is commonly used for hedge planting and topiary. It is one of the largest living European species and can live up to 500 years old, although there are some ancient Yews estimated to be thousands of years old.

Problems

Yew does not like waterlogged conditions. When foliage turns a bronze colour it may indicated poor drainage or some other environmental stress such as drought.