Buy English yew Taxus baccata

Taxus baccata

English yew

Needle-like, dark green leaves on horizontal branches and fleshy, cup-shaped, bright-red autumn fruits on female plants. The dark green foliage of this slow-growing, evergreen conifer provides an excellent background for shrub and herbaceous borders. Broadly conical in shape, Taxus baccata is tolerant to dry shade, chalky and acid soils, and urban pollution. Yew also makes a fabulous, formal hedge.

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How to care for Taxus baccata:

Yews thrive in moist but well-drained soil and can be placed in full sun to full shade, making them versatile for various settings, including borders. Water well as the plant establishes, then reduce watering, as yews prefer slightly drier conditions to avoid root rot.

Feed in spring with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser. Prune yew lightly in late spring or early summer to maintain shape, removing any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. It responds well to hard pruning, so older plants can be rejuvenated by cutting back to strong, healthy growth.

When used as a hedge, clip once or twice a year to encourage dense, upright growth, keeping the sides slightly tapered so the base is wider than the top for good light penetration.

Eventual height:

20m

Eventual spread:

10m

Position:

Full sun / light shade / shade

Rate of growth:

Average

Soil:

Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, or peat-free general purpose compost

Hardiness:

Fully hardy

Humans/Pets: TOXIC if eaten