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Growth Rate
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Moderate; 6–10" of growth per year under good conditions.
Reaches 10–15 ft tall × 4–6 ft wide at maturity, upright pyramidal habit.
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Colorful leaves
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Flowering
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Yes |
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Bloom Color
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Disease resistant
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Yes |
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Cold Tolerant
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Yes |
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Heat Tolerant
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No |
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Drought Tolerant
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No |
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Deer Resistant
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No |
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Edible
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No |
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Wildlife Attraction
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Provides dense shelter for birds and small mammals.
Berries (red arils) eaten by some birds, though seeds inside are toxic.
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Self-pollinating
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Seasonality
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Evergreen year-round, providing constant structure.
Spring: minor flowering (not ornamental).
Summer–fall: berries (red arils) may form on female plants.
Winter: foliage maintains color and form, valuable in landscapes.
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Ideal For
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– Formal hedges, screening, foundation plantings, specimen accents, vertical evergreen structure, shade-tolerant landscapes |
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Leaf Description
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Evergreen, needle-like foliage, flat and lance-shaped.
Dark green, glossy needles held densely along stems.
Provides a year-round lush, refined appearance.
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Flower Description
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Very inconspicuous yellowish-green male flowers in spring.
Female flowers are even less noticeable.
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Planting Instructions
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Plant in spring or fall when soil is workable.
Choose a site with well-drained soil—yews do not tolerate soggy conditions.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep.
Place the plant with the root collar at soil level.
Backfill with native soil; amend only if soil is very poor.
Water thoroughly and apply a 2–3" mulch layer around the base, keeping mulch away from the trunk.
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Pruning & Maintenance
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Tolerates heavy pruning and shaping; ideal for hedging and topiary.
Light prune in late spring to early summer after new growth flushes.
Remove dead or damaged branches any time of year.
Avoid cutting back into bare wood; yews may not regenerate from old stems.
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Water Needs
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Moderate; water deeply and consistently during establishment (first 1–2 years).
Once established, fairly drought tolerant but best with supplemental water during prolonged dry spells.
Avoid standing water and heavy clay soils.
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Light Needs
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Grows well in full sun to part shade; tolerates full shade better than most conifers.
Best form and density achieved with at least a half day of sun.
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Harvesting
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Not grown for harvest; purely ornamental.
Arils not suitable for culinary use.
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Fertilizing
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Apply balanced, slow-release fertilizer (10-10-10 or similar) in early spring.
Avoid excessive nitrogen, which may lead to weak growth.
Annual compost or leaf mold mulch helps maintain soil fertility.
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Pollination
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Dioecious (male and female plants separate).
Insect- and wind-pollinated; female plants produce fruit only if a male is nearby.
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Companion Plants
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Shade-tolerant perennials: Hosta, Heuchera, Ferns, Pulmonaria.
Woodland shrubs: Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Pieris, Hydrangea.
Formal designs: Boxwood, Ilex crenata, Buxus for evergreen structure.
Pairs well with flowering spring bulbs or shade perennials for contrast.
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