Yew Trees | Taxus

Choosing & Growing Yew Trees

The Yew trees & bushes we offer have a slow growing nature so they are ideal for small or large landscaped areas and are even suitable candidates for being grown in a pot or planter. We have green (Irish Yew) and gold (Golden Irish Yew) options, plus a dwarf variety called Taxus standishii which has bright golden foliage and reaches just 1 metre in height. Please be aware that the berries of Yew are toxic - they look attractive on the plant and when they fall onto the ground so please be very careful with inquisitive children (or pets).

Yew is a very versatile species of Conifer and will grow in virtually any position including fully shaded areas, although the foliage on the golden varieties will be more vibrant if exposed to sunlight. Yew tolerates all soil types including chalk, but doesn't like badly draining soil or being overwatered (though you will need to water in dry spells until established). These trees are also very good in cold areas.  Yew can tolerate hard pruning if required (to restore shape or to keep height down) and will successfully regenerate from old wood.

Interesting Facts About Yew Trees

• There are eight official species of Yew tree, which have given way to hundreds of cultivars found across the Northern hemisphere.
• Yew trees are unusual, as they are one of only two species of conifer (the other being Junipers) that produce berry-like fruits rather than bearing cones.
• Yew has long been associated with churchyards. There are at least 500 churchyards in England which contain Yew trees older than the buildings.
• The leaves of Yew trees are used in the production of Taxol, a drug thought to prevent the growth of cancer cells
• The oldest known wooden implement found in Britain, is a spear made of Yew wood, and is thought to be 50,000 years old - found in Clacton on Sea