Growing the Yewtopia Plum Yew

Size and Appearance

The Yewtopia Plum Yew is a broadly spreading low evergreen shrub, very close in appearance to yew (Taxus). It has a vase-shaped growth habit, sending up shoots at about 45 degrees to the ground, so that after a few years it will be perhaps 3 or 4 feet tall and the same across. Like all conifers, it will continue to grow indefinitely, so although always staying compact, it will in time, if untrimmed, become significantly larger.

The leaves are an attractive dark green, and glossy, looking great all year round. They are soft to the touch, between 1 and 3 inches long and ¼ inch wide, like a thin ribbon tapering to a rounded tip. They form two rows along the stems, arching upwards and outwards like the wings of a bird – very graceful and attractive. On older stems the needles become more congested, obscuring this feature. Young spring shoots are bright, light green, maturing to a classic darker tone. Needles last for 4 or 5 years, before turning yellow in summer and falling, but by then they will be deeper inside the bush, and not noticed. Older stems are leafless and thicker, with a rough, textured bark of dark brown to dark gray. The Plum yew does develop round, one-inch edible plum-like brown fruits, but this is only on female plants, and it isn’t clear if this tree is male or female, as it rarely produces the small, insignificant flowers.

Using the Yewtopia Plum Yew in Your Garden

Wherever you have areas that are partially or completely shady, the Yewtopia Plum Yew is a great choice. Plant it beneath larger shrubs or tall trees, as a taller ground cover (space bushes 3 feet apart) or background to shorter plants. Use it for foundation planting on the north and east sides of your home, where it can be trimmed as needed. Out in the garden it can be left to grow untrimmed, unless you want that formal look. Use it in woodland areas, or the most formal setting. In zones 8 and 9 it can also be used in planter boxes and pots, where it looks great. Gardeners in zones 6 and 7 can also grow the true yew, but why not grow this bush as well, for some subtle variety?

Hardiness

Completely hardy from zone 6, this bush really comes into its own in warmer parts of zone 7, and in zone 8, 9 and 10. There it is too hot for yew, but not for the Yewtopia Plum Yew. It will also probably grow in zone 5, but there is a risk that in a severe winter there could be damage to foliage and younger stems.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Yewtopia Plum Yew will take full sun, especially in cooler zones, and it is perfectly happy with just a few hours of direct sun each day. It also grows well in full shade if it is not too dense – so beneath deciduous trees is fine, underneath low-growing large evergreen trees it can be more difficult, and growth will be slow and more open. It grows in any well-drained soil, preferring sandy soils with added organic materials. It enjoys plenty of water, but doesn’t like to be in heavy, wet ground. Once established it has moderate drought tolerance, but benefits from deep soaking during long dry periods.

Maintenance and Pruning

This plant is not usually troubled by pests or diseases, and it is normally left alone by deer. Unlike the true yew, no parts are poisonous, so it is completely child and pet safe. It can be trimmed with shears at almost any time, although late fall is not advised in cooler zones. Unlike many other conifers, you can cut back to bare branches and they will quickly re-sprout vigorously. It is easy to trim into a neat low hedge, or simple shapes like cubes, balls and broad pyramids.

History and Origin of the Yewtopia Plum Yew

Plum Yew, Cephalotaxus harringtonii, is native to Japan, and sometimes called ‘cow-tail pine’. It grows in the shade beneath larger trees, and can itself become a small tree to 20 feet tall or even more. The name was at first incorrectly spelled ‘harringtonia’. That was corrected more than 10 years ago, but this older name is still commonly used. It was introduced into Europe in 1829 and originally called a Taxus. Later its differences were realized, and it was re-named, to honor the Earl of Harrington, who had been active in promoting its use in English gardens. Later it was brought to America, or it might have arrived directly from Japan in the 19th century, crossing the Pacific. The variety sold with the trademarked name Yewtopia was developed for the Southern Living Plant Collection, and has been given the botanical name of ‘Plania’. Where it came from, or who first grew it, is something we don’t know.

Buying the Yewtopia Plum Yew at the Tree Center

If you have struggled with yew trees in hot, humid areas, you aren’t alone. Time to admit defeat (or get smart) and start growing the amazing Yewtopia Plum Yew. Get that ‘yew look’ so easily, no matter where you live. Order now – we won’t have these plants in stock for long, yew know.

Growing the Dark Green Spreader Yew

Size and Appearance

The Dark Green Spreader is an evergreen shrub that grows at a moderate rate, perhaps 6 inches a year, to form a broad bushy plant that in ten years will be 3 to 4 feet tall and about 6 feet wide, if you don’t trim it. Although new stems are upright, the main branches tend to spread in an irregular way outwards, covered in dense foliage. Like all evergreens it will continue to grow indefinitely, and mature plants can easily be 5 or 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide, although trimming easily keeps it as small as you need. The sturdy branches have an almost black bark, generally hidden by the abundance of leafy shoots.

Young stems are green, and they keep that color through winter and much of the next year. The foliage is a double row of flat needles, spreading out more or less horizontally on either side of the stems. The needles are broad and flat, with parallel sides, and no more than 1½ inches long. The foliage is always dense, bushy and soft to the touch. Some varieties of yew can have yellowish-green foliage, but what sets this one apart is the persistent dark green of the needles. Spring growth is a brighter green, but that soon darkens to a solid deep green that lasts all through winter.

Using Dark Green Spreader Yew in Your Garden

For covering blank spaces beneath trees, or filling in the foreground of beds around your home or further out in your garden, the Dark Green Spreader Yew can’t be beaten. Use it to edge a path or driveway, or fill a narrow bed along a wall or beside a fence. Trimmed it becomes a dense, low hedge. Untrimmed it is an undulating mound of gorgeous green. For mass planting or edging, space plants 3 feet apart, which makes this a relatively economical way to cover larger areas.

Hardiness

Much more cold-resistant than the English yew, the Dark Green Spreading Yew is hardy from zone 4 to zone 7. In zone 4 we also recommend the very similar Dense Spreading Yew, which is generally considered to be the hardiest of all yews. Gardeners in hotter areas will find the varieties of the English yew more suitable.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Many gardeners think of yew as shade plants, but the Dark Green Spreader Yew will grow well, keeping its dark coloring, in full sun. Of course it also grows in many light levels, from partial shade to light full shade, but not so well in dense shade, such as beneath larger evergreen trees. It is important that the soil is well-drained – yew don’t like ‘wet feet’ – but otherwise this bush will grow in all soils, preferring rich, moist ones for the most vigorous growth. Water young plants regularly in summer for the first few years, but established plants handle normal summer dryness without problems.

Maintenance and Pruning

You won’t have any serious problems with the Dark Green Spreader Yew, because pests and diseases are rare, and deer don’t eat it. Wet soil, or very dry soil, are the most common causes of yellowing and dropping needles. It can be trimmed at any time, although in cold zones it is best to trim between late spring and early fall. Yew is one of the few conifers where you can cut hard, leaving bare branches – they soon re-sprout, so this plant is very easy to work with. Organic mulch over the roots in spring or fall is always beneficial.

History and Origin of the Dark Green Spreader Yew

The Gilded Age was a time when wealthy people often built large gardens, and collected rare plants. The garden of H. H. Hunnewell, in Wellesley, outside Boston Massachusetts, was especially famous for its conifer collection. Around 1900 his head gardener, T.D. Hartfield, collected some seeds from an upright English yew (Taxus baccata) and sowed them. The plants turned out to be a hybrid, with the pollen coming from a Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata). This hybrid plant was named Taxus x media, the foundation yew. Around the same time, this hybridization was repeated with a Japanese yew as the seed producer, at Henry Hicks Nursery in Westbury, Long Island, New York.

Since then many different forms have been selected, and one, with very dark green leaves, called Nigra, was introduced by the Cottage Gardens Company in Queens, New York, in 1951. This plant seems to be the variety commonly called Dark Green Spreader by most nurseries, although that is not certain.

Buying the Dark Green Spreader Yew at the Tree Center

When you just want to get the job done, but equally, when you want to plant long-lived, structural foundation plants in your garden, the Dark Green Spreader Yew is the first choice. For trouble-free green it can’t be beaten. There is always high demand for these basic shrubs, so our stock can sell out fast. Order now, because you don’t want to be disappointed.

Growing Dense Spreading Yew

Size and Appearance

The Dense Spreading Yew is an evergreen bush that grows 3 to 6 inches a year, spreading outwards with undulating branches densely covered in foliage. After 10 years it will be about 3 feet tall and 5 or 6 feet across, if you haven’t trimmed it. It will continue to grow, and plants double that size, or even more, can be seen in older gardens across the northeast. With trimming it can be kept indefinitely at just about any size you want, but it is always best to keep a broad, lower form to it. For upright looks there are other choices among our yew trees. The strong stems are covered in an almost smooth brown-black bark, but branches are rarely seen, because they are covered in dense foliage growing on side stems.

Young shoots are greenish, holding that color through the first winter. The foliage consists of soft, flat needles, 1 to 1½ inches long, ending in an abrupt point, and arranged in two rows more or less spread flat out on either side of the stems. The color of young foliage is bright green, soon turning to a rich dark green that holds through winter. Needles remain on the bush for several years, eventually yellowing and falling in the inside of the plant, mostly invisibly. This is a female plant, so although some small pollen cones may be seen in spring, no red berries are produced.

Using Dense Spreading Yew in Your Garden

Wherever you need to cover areas of ground with a reliable dark-green color, creating a rich lushness, then Dense Spreading Yew is the right choice. Plants can be spaced at least 3 feet apart, or even more, so it is also an economical way to cover larger areas beneath trees, along paths and drives, or around your home. Use it behind low-growing flowering plants for permanent structure. It can be trimmed as needed, as frequently as you like, or left to grow naturally.

Hardiness

This is one of the hardiest of all the yews, completely hardy in zone 4 and growing well and vigorously all the way through zone 7. It is not suitable for hot zones and areas with high temperatures and humidity in summer, but it will grow in zones 8 and 9 in the northwest.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Although often thought of as a bush for shade, Dense Spreading Yew grows well in full sun, as long as the ground is not too dry. It will become very dense, and perhaps a little lighter green. It also grows well across a wide range of shade conditions, although not so well in dark full shade, such as beneath large evergreens. Pretty much anywhere in your garden – it will grow. The soil should be well-drained (this is important) but rich, moist soils are preferred. Established plants can easily handle normal summer drought in cooler zones.

Maintenance and Pruning

Dense Spreading Yew is normally free of serious pests or diseases, and any problems are usually related to being too wet or too dry, or in too dark a place. It can be trimmed more or less at will, at any time of year, although in the coldest zones it is recommended to only trim between late spring, when the new growth has matured a little, and early fall. Otherwise new growth may be damaged by winter cold. Always soak plants deeply at the beginning of winter, and spread mulch over the roots in cold zones, to prevent any winter damage to foliage. New bushes should be watered regularly during their first couple of summers, but after that little attention will be needed.

History and Origin of the Dense Spreading Yew

The story of the Dense Spreading Yew begins around 1900 at the grand gardens of the wealthy H. H. Hunnewell, in Wellesley, outside Boston Massachusetts. He had a world-famous collection of conifers in his Pinetum, and his head gardener T.D. Hartfield collected some seeds from an upright English yew, Taxus baccata. It turned out that the pollen-parent was a Japanese yew, Taxus cuspidata, and the resulting hybrid plants were named Taxus x media. Around the same time, the same cross in the opposite direction, with seed taken from a Japanese yew, was made at Henry Hicks Nursery in Westbury, Long Island, New York. From these original plants many varieties were selected and bred, including one first mentioned in the 1951 catalog of Hoogendoom Nursery, Middletown, Rhode Island. That plant was named Densiformis, and is the Dense Spreading Yew we know so well.

Buying Dense Spreading Yew at the Tree Center

We always try to keep a good stock of this basic shrub, in different sizes, on our farm, because it is always in demand. So much in demand that it can be hard to keep around. Right now we have a good supply, so take this opportunity to enhance your garden, but not increase your work, by ordering right away.

Growing the Golden Columnar English Yew

Size and Appearance

The Golden Columnar English Yew is an upright evergreen conifer with a slender form. It grows 6 to 12 inches a year when young, slowing down as it matures, so after just 10 years it should be 10 feet tall under good conditions, with a width of just 2 or 3 feet. Growth will slow after that, but 30 feet tall and up to 8 feet wide is a reasonable size for a mature specimen. Of course, for many of us we will trim it to whatever size we need, and like all yew trees it trims beautifully, into as neat and formal a shape as the most obsessive gardener could even want. Unlike many other upright trees, it doesn’t have a pyramidal shape, and the top is usually as wide as the base, or even a little wider if it isn’t trimmed.

The leaves are soft needles, about 1½ inches long, and new growth is a beautiful golden yellow, maturing slowly into a light green. This bush looks like it has been brushed with butter, and it really is very beautiful in every season of the year. Older plants may produce a crop of bright red berries in fall. These have a sweet flesh, as the birds know, but the seeds are poisonous if crushed, so don’t eat them. The foliage is poisonous to horses and cattle, and to dogs and cats as well, although they rarely bother to eat them. While often fatal, many yards have yew trees of one kind or another, but cases of poisoning are rare.

Using the Golden Columnar English Yew in Your Garden

This tree is a great choice where you want a strong ‘exclamation point’ in your garden, to catch the eye and make you linger. Use it anywhere in beds, and especially in foundation planting around your home, for example between windows, or beside a door, perhaps as a matching pair. It looks good in casual gardens as an upright specimen, or in more formal gardens at the corners of paved areas, or as a center-piece. It can be used as a hedge or screen too, especially where you don’t have much width available. Plant at 3-foot intervals for a solid hedge, or up to 10 feet apart for a striking avenue. It also grows well, and for years, in a tub or planter.

Hardiness

The Golden Columnar English Yew is hardy from zone 6 to zone 8. In zone 6 plant in a sheltered spot and be sure to water deeply in late fall, as winter burn is possible on young plants. Once well-established this is unlikely to continue.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Although it will grow well in full sun, like all yew trees this plant is especially useful for partial shade, and light full shade as well. The gold coloring holds well in shade, just turning green a little sooner. As for soil, all it asks for is good drainage – yew trees don’t like ‘wet feet’. Don’t plant in low-lying areas, and on clay soils it will do best on slopes, or planted on a low mound. It grows well in both acid and alkaline soils.

Maintenance and Pruning

Although naturally upright, you might choose to trim it, and few if any plants trim as easily and as well as yew. Trim once the new growth has matured in late spring, and anytime up to early fall. Don’t trim late, especially in zone 6, because this can stimulate new growth, easily damaged by winter cold. You are very unlikely to see any pests or diseases, and some evergreen fertilizer in spring is all the trouble you need to take.

History and Origin of the Golden Columnar English Yew

The English Yew, Taxus baccata, has a long history. Once wide-spread across Europe into the Middle East and north Africa, it has declined ever since humans invented the axe. In gardens it has been grown as a hedge plant for centuries. Unusual forms have been collected for a long time, and in 1780 a farmer called Mr. Willis dug up a plant growing wild in the hills above his farm in Fermanagh, Ireland. Pieces of it were soon being distributed, and this narrow, upright tree became famous as the Irish Yew. It is a female plant, and produces seeds, so lots of seedlings have been grown from it. At least two nurseries in Britain – the Knap Hill Nursery of the Waterer family, and Dickson’s Nurseries in Chester – found plants with golden foliage among those seedlings, and it seems to have been first listed for sale around 1868. Sometime later plants must have been brought across to America. We don’t know the exact lineage of our plants, but all the golden seedlings are virtually identical.

Buying the Golden Columnar English Yew at the Tree Center

You might be looking for an attractive upright golden evergreen, or thinking of leaving the legacy of an ancient specimen for future generations. Either way the Golden Columnar English Yew is a superb choice. Easy to grow, with almost no care needed, these plants are not often available, so we know they won’t last long. Order quickly, but plant slowly.

Growing the Spreading Japanese Plum Yew

Size and Appearance

The Spreading Japanese Plum Yew is an evergreen shrub with many branches, which after 10 years will grow to be 2 or 3 feet tall. It will spread broadly to 6 feet wide, and later to as much as 10 feet across. The glossy, dark-green leaves always look lush, rich and healthy. Only ¼ inch wide, they are between 1 and 2 inches long, and flat, with parallel sides and a short, rounded tip. They grow in two rows along the branches, arching upwards and outwards like a bird’s wings to make a ‘V’. New growth is a fresh, lighter green, and makes an attractive contrast with the older leaves in spring. The leaves stay on the tree for 4 or even 5 years, eventually falling to show the dark-brown or greyish bark on the stems.

Just like yew trees, the plum yew has separate male and female trees, but the Spreading Japanese Plum Yew rarely, if ever, flowers, so it is not clear if it has the potential to produce the edible, plum-like fruits that distinguish this plant from yew. As well, it is safer to grow because unlike yew all parts are non-toxic.

Using the Spreading Japanese Plum Yew in Your Garden

This attractive evergreen is perfect wherever you need low plants in partial or full shade. This may be beneath tall deciduous or evergreen trees, or along the base of the north-side of a building, wall or fence. Its low height means you won’t need to be clipping it all the time, and it will spread out and cover a large area. It is perfect for edging a path or driveway through a shady part of your property, or for using as part of the foundation planting around your house. A spacing of about 4 feet between plants will give you a solid cover in a few years. Its fresh green look is calm and cooling, and so much better than bare earth.

Hardiness

The Spreading Japanese Plum Yew is hardy from zones 6 to 9, growing well in mild or hot zones, both in the north-west and in the east, including northern Florida and the deep South. English yew is not reliable in zones 8 and 9 in the east, and it is there that this plant really comes to the fore as the perfect shrub for shady corners.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Partial shade or full shade suit the Spreading Japanese Plum Yew perfectly. In zone 6 it will grow in full sun, if the soil is moist. In warmer zones hot midday and early afternoon sun can scorch or yellow the leaves, but morning or evening direct sun is ideal. It grows in any well-drained soil, preferring more sandy soils, but it does need a steady supply of water, especially in its early years. Older plants are more drought-resistant.

Maintenance and Pruning

This tree is normally not significantly affected by pests or diseases, and deer usually don’t bother with it. It can be left to grow naturally or it can also be clipped or trimmed as you wish, and regular trimming will give a solid, hedge-like look. Trim at any time between late winter and mid-fall.

History and Origin of the Spreading Japanese Plum Yew

The Spreading Japanese Plum Yew is a selected form of the Japanese plum yew, Cephalotaxus harringtonii. This plant grows naturally in Japan, from Hokkaidō southwards as far as Kyūshū. It grows in the shade of large trees in the forests, and there it will in time become a broad tree up to 20 feet tall. It is sometimes called ‘cow-tail pine’, and at first it was thought to be a type of yew tree. Introduced into Europe in 1829 it has always been used as an alternative to English yew (Taxus), and its value in the heat and humidity of the south-eastern states has made it popular there for a very long time. Early in the 20th century, at the famous Hillier Nursery in Britain, a branch on a tree was noticed that grew sideways, instead of upwards. Pieces were grown, and they kept that spreading habit. This plant was named ‘Prostrata’. Today we call it the Spreading Japanese Plum Yew.

Buying the Spreading Japanese Plum Yew at The Tree Center

If you have struggled to grow plants in shady parts of your garden, then the Spreading Japanese Plum Yew is the shrub you need. It’s beauty and usefulness make it very desirable, so the demand is always high, while the supply is low. Order your plants now, as they will be gone very soon.

Sadly, in zones 8 and 9, Yew struggles to cope with the heat and humidity, but there is a very similar plant which gives us the same attractive foliage and shade tolerance. This is a Chinese plant called Plum Yew. Even in zones 6 and 7, where Yew will grow well, the Plum Yew will grow right alongside them, bringing variety and interest to these areas. The Duke Gardens Plum Yew is a selected form of this bush, which stays smaller and more compact, growing just 4 feet tall.

Growing Duke Gardens Plum Yew Trees

The Duke Gardens Plum Yew is a slower-growing evergreen (adding just 4 to 6 inches a year), with soft dark-green leaves that are about 1½ inches long, and ¼ of an inch wide. They have parallel sides, ending suddenly in a rounded tip, and they are slightly glossy and a rich deep green. In Spring the new shoots and leaves are a brighter yellow-green, making an attractive contrast with the older, darker leaves. The leaves are arranged in two rows along the sides of the shoots, and form a broad ‘V’-shape, suggesting the open wings of a bird. The stems remain green for three years, and turn brown in the fourth year, while the needles remain green and attached for 4 or 5 years, before yellowing in spring and falling from the plant. Older stems are dark-brown to gray, with a bark that becomes increasingly rough and textured as the stems age.

Plants of the Duke Gardens Plum Yew have many stems arising from the base, and form a dense, bushy vase-shaped plant, which in 8 to 10 years will reach between 3 to 4 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide. Plants continue to grow slowly throughout their life and if unclipped, older plants will grow several feet larger and wider over the years. You can leave this plant unclipped to develop a mature natural form, or it can be clipped into a low hedge, or a broad dome.

Planting and Initial Care

Plant the Duke Gardens Plum Yew in any shaded area of your garden. It will grow in partial shade, and even in full shade, making it a very valuable addition to your planting, and one that can deal with areas other plants cannot tolerate. In cooler zones it will tolerate full sun, but in warmer areas it should at least have shade in the afternoon. It will grow in sheltered gardens in zone 5, although in severe winters it may suffer some browning and die-back.

Spraying with anti-desiccant will help it resist winter browning in zone 5. In zone 6 and warmer it will grow well, and easily tolerates the heat and humidity of warmer zones. It grows best in moist, sandy, well-drained soil, but it does well in most garden soils. Once established it will tolerate normal summer drought periods, but water deeply if dry periods become extended. It rarely suffers from any pests or diseases, deer generally leave it alone, and this is a very easy, super-low-maintenance plant.

Uses on Your Property

Use a single plant of the Duke Gardens Plum Yew as an accent among leafy ground cover plants or plant a group behind smaller plants. Space the plants 3 to 5 feet apart to fill larger areas. Plant a row at 3-foot spacing to create an edging or low barrier. The stable, evergreen effect of plum yew brings a tranquil beauty to your garden. It can be clipped as required, or simply left to grow naturally.

History and Origins of the Duke Gardens Plum Yew

The plum yew is sometimes called Korean or Japanese plum-yew, and also called the cowtail pine. It grows wild in the forests of Japan, beneath larger trees, and can in time become a small tree over 20 feet tall. It was brought to Europe in 1829 and first named, in 1839, as a type of yew. Later It was re-named as Cephalotaxus harringtonii, or C. harringtonia. The English Earl of Harrington was an early proponent of using this plant in gardens, and so it is named after him. There are several other closely-related species, of a very similar appearance, growing in Korea and China. This plant is called ‘plum yew’ because the fruit looks like a miniature plum, about one inch long, and green, turning brown in fall. It is only carried on female plants, which need a male plant to pollinate them.

The variety of plum yew called ‘Duke Gardens’ was found in 1958 by Richard Fillmore, the Head Horticulturist at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, part of Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina. It is a smaller and more compact plant than the wild form of the plum yew, and so much more useful in most gardens. It is a male plant, and it does not produce any fruit.

The Duke Gardens Plum Yew is an extremely useful and desirable evergreen, for both warm and hot regions, but it is rarely offered, so we know our top-quality stock will soon be gone. Order now while we can still fulfill your order, so you can enjoy one of the best shade-loving evergreens available.

Growing Japanese Plum Yew

The Japanese Plum Yew is an evergreen conifer with a strong resemblance to the English Yew (Taxus). The upright stems grow from the base, making a dense, bushy plant that is usually as wide as it is tall. It is slower growing, generally adding about 6 inches a year, but in ideal conditions young plants may increase their size by as much as 12 inches a year, giving you a good-sized bush within just a few years. After 10 years a plant will be between 5 and 10 feet tall and wide. 

Characteristics

The dark green leaves are glossy, and of a rich, healthy color. They are between 1 and 2 inches long, and just ¼ inch wide, flat, with parallel sides that end abruptly with a rounded tip. They are in two rows along the stem, and arch upwards and outwards in a ‘V’-shape like the wings of a dove – as if a yew tree had suddenly decided to become graceful and more elegant. Young shoots and leaves are a bright, lighter green, making an attractive contrast between the new and the old for several weeks in the spring, or after trimming. The leaves remain in place for 4 or 5 years, before falling, leaving the bare older stems to thicken and develop rougher, textured dark-brown to gray bark. 

In spring, older plants may flower. Male and female flowers are carried on separate trees, and when being propagated both types may be used, so we cannot say if the tree you receive will be male or female. When they flower male flowers appear as a pair of round yellow balls beneath each pair of leaves, all along the stem. They release pollen from March to May. Female flowers are also in pairs, but only scattered, and knob-like. If you have male trees to pollinate them, female flowers develop into one-inch diameter round ‘plums’, that are green at first, and brown when ripe. They are edible, and this plant is cultivated as a food crop in Japan – so enjoy! It is, of course, this fruit that gives the tree its common name.

Planting and Initial Care

You can grow the Japanese Plum Yew in full sun in zone 6, if the soil is moist, and in partial to full shade in all zones. It is tolerant of dark shade, but the growth will the slower and more open. It prefers sandy, well-drained soil, with plenty of moisture, but not wet soil. Once established it is moderately drought resistant, but the great advantage of this plant as an evergreen for shade is its tolerance of high temperatures and humidity. For this reason, it is ideal for zones 8 and 9, where English yew grows poorly. It will grow in sheltered gardens in zone 5, although in severe winters it may suffer some browning and die-back. Spraying with anti-desiccant will help it resist winter browning in zone 5. It can be trimmed as needed, by pruning branches or by trimming with shears, so that attractive shapes and hedges are easy to create with this versatile and adaptable plant. For a hedge, plant 3 feet apart in a row. Pest and diseases are not usually problems, and deer leave this plant strictly alone. Unlike the English yew, no parts of the plant are poisonous, so it is perfectly safe, even around small children, another plus for this valuable evergreen.

History and Origins of Japanese Plum Yew

The Japanese Plum Yew is called Cephalotaxus harringtonii by botanists, and sometimes ‘cow-tail pine’, and it is a native tree of Japan. It is found growing from Hokkaidō southwards as far as Kyūshū. There it grows beneath larger trees, in the shade, and it can be a small tree 20 feet or more in height. It was introduced into Europe in 1829 and named as Taxus japonica in 1839. Later it was more carefully recognized as different and given its present name. It was named because of the activity of the Earl of Harrington, who encouraged its use in English gardens. Strangely it remains underutilized, although gardeners in the south have become aware of it, and the demand is high and the supply low. Our stock will soon be gone, so if you have found Yew hard to grow, choose the Japanese Plum Yew instead. Order now, while supplies last.

Growing Upright Japanese Plum Yew

The Upright Japanese Plum Yew is an evergreen conifer with branches that thrust vertically upwards, making a slim, narrow plant that will be 6 feet tall within 10 years, but less than 18 inches wide. It grows at a rate of 6 to 8 inches a year, so in time, if untrimmed, it will be significantly taller, and mature plants can be over 10 feet tall, and between 3 and 5 feet wide. The upper stems grow vertically, without branching, for some length. This gives the plant a very strong vertical line and lots of character, with the stems looking rod-like and stiff. Lower stems branch and become bushy, with spreading side-shoots. New vertical shoots grow up strongly from the base, keeping this plant bushy and dense, and gradually widening. Older stems at the base of the plant have reddish brown to gray bark, with an attractive rough texture, while the younger bark is green.

The leaves of the Upright Japanese Plum Yew are long and slender, with parallel sides, ending abruptly in a rounded tip. They are up to 2 inches long, and ¼ inch wide, flat, with a rich, dark green upper side, and a gray-green lower side. In the ordinary Japanese plum yew, the leaves grow in two rows on opposite sides of the stems, arching and curving like the wings of a bird. We see this arrangement on the lower side-shoots, but on the younger upright shoots the leaves grow out all around the stems, looking very much like the English yew, but a little longer. The leaves stay lush and green all year round, and last on the plant for 4 or 5 years, before dropping. The Japanese plum yew has separate male and female trees, with male trees producing pollen, and female trees producing edible, plum-like fruits that are popular in Japan. It is not clear if this upright form is male or female, since it never seems to flower.

Location Ideas

With its strong architectural form and unique features, the Upright Japanese Plum Yew is a great specimen plant in all styles of gardens, from traditional to modern, and in Japanese-style gardens too. Plant it to fill the corners of courtyards and small spaces. Use it as an accent in a bed of shrubs. Plant it on a lawn area, or beneath large shade trees. A row, spaced 18 inches apart, makes a great screen for a shady place, or along a north-facing wall. It is also valuable as a container plant in dark areas, where its upright form and dense growth will look great all year round.

Planting and Initial Care

The Upright Japanese Plum Yew is significantly more cold-resistant than the normal form of this tree. It is reliably hardy, with no winter injury, not only in zone 6, but all through zone 5. If you would like to grow a Plum Yew, and you live in these areas, this is the one to choose. Equally, if you live in zones 8 and 9, and need shade-tolerant evergreens, then look no further. Forget trying to grow English yew in those zones and switch to Plum yew. This plant thrives in the heat and humidity of the South, and nothing beats it for shade tolerance. It will grow in full sun in cooler zones, and in partial shade everywhere. Especially in the hottest zones, it will grow well even in deep shade, and nothing beats it for shady corners, where it will bring greenness and interest to those unsightly dead spaces. This plant is normally free of pests and diseases, and it grows best in moist, well-drained sandy soils, but it will grow in most soils that are not constantly saturated, or very dry. Once established it has moderate resistance to drought, and pests, diseases, and deer leave it alone. It can be trimmed as needed, but with its unique growth, there is no real reason to pull out the trimmers.

History and Origins of Upright Japanese Plum Yew Trees

The Upright Japanese Plum Yew is a special form of the Japanese Plum Yew, Cephalotaxus harringtonii, called ‘Fastigiata’. It is an old variety originally grown in Japan, where it is still popular, particularly for hedges. It certainly dates back before 1830, and it was introduced in the West in 1869, forty years after the original Japanese plum yew arrived. It is widely grown and appreciated in Europe, but less so in America, perhaps because it is confused with English yew. We highly recommend this plant for its toughness and shade resistance. We only have a limited stock, so order now, as they will soon be gone.

Growing David Golden Yew Trees

David Golden Yew grows steadily into an upright column of evergreen foliage, with many upright stems covered in long, narrow leaves. It stays leafy right to the ground for many years, gradually developing a natural flame-like shape. It can easily be trimmed into a vertical column for a formal look. The leaves are slightly leathery, and soft to the touch, unlike many other ‘needle’ evergreens. They are about 1½ inches long and less than ¼ inch wide. The leaf is bright yellow, with a thin, very narrow green stripe down the middle, and in spring the new growth is almost completely golden yellow, creating a dramatic brightness. As the leaves mature the green becomes a little darker, but never as dark as seen in ordinary yew trees, and the yellow stays brilliant all year round, without significant greening. The overall effect is of a golden tree with a slightly greenish interior – beautifully bright in your garden all year round.

Uses on Your Property

Use the David Golden Yew as a powerful color accent around the garden. It combines the advantages of a vertical accent – always useful in any bed – with foliage color as well, and it brings you months and months of color, not just a week or two, as flowering shrubs usually do. This shrub is an ideal addition to the planting around your home, hiding bare walls, framing windows, and filling spaces perfectly.

Plant it as a single specimen in smaller gardens and spaces, or in groups of 3, 5, or more to easily fill larger spaces with attractive and colorful low-maintenance planting. It is ideal for planting as a pair on either side of an entrance, to bring a formal look to your garden, or use it in planter boxes on a terrace or larger balcony. In wooden tubs it would look perfect, not even needing other plants around it, although you could add trailing plants for a beautiful finish.

Planting and Initial Care

David Golden Yew grows well in sun or shade. For the strongest golden effect it should be grown in full sun or light shade, but even in shade it is much brighter than any other yew tree available. It grows easily in almost any garden soil, but not in soils that are constantly wet. Water your new plant regularly for the first year or two, and during longer summer dry spells. This variety is hardy in zone 6, but if you are looking for yew to grow in zone 5, and even in zone 4, we recommend our selection of Japanese yew varieties, or a hybrid yew such as Hicks Yew. Yew is usually free of pests and diseases of any concern, and this is an easy, adaptable plant that anyone can grow and enjoy.

History and Origins of the David Golden Yew

The English Yew (taxus baccata) grows all over Europe, as well as in North Africa and the Middle East. In hotter countries it is found in cooler mountain areas. It has been grown in gardens for centuries, for its hard wood, and for hedges and clipped ornamental plants. It is very easy to trim, and unlike most other conifers it will re-sprout from old branches with no leaves on them. It also doesn’t produce cones, but instead it has red berries in fall and winter, which contain a poisonous seed. There are separate male and female trees, and the David Golden Yew is a male tree, so it never produces berries, making it completely safe around children.

The variety called ‘David’ was found around the beginning of this century as a seedling tree growing at a tree nursery in the Netherlands, called Boomkwekerijen Zundert. It was named after the owner, David Bömer. It could be a seedling from a variegated form of the famous Irish Yew, an upright all-green yew tree that was found growing wild in Ireland in 1780. It has several similar forms, with yellow and green leaves, and since it is a female tree, it has already produced several varieties from seedlings.

The David Golden Yew has caught everyone’s attention since it was introduced, for its brilliant yellow coloring, lasting all year. It is the strongest yellow of any of the upright yews, and we know that our stock will soon be gone, so order now to bring year-round brightness into your garden.

The Prostrate Japanese Yew grows as much as a foot a year to soon become a wide, spreading evergreen shrub, covering an area up to 15 feet across, yet it rises to only 4 feet tall. After decades plant may become taller, and even wider, but this plant responds very well to pruning and trimming, and you can keep it as neat or as natural as you are wish.

The evergreen foliage is glossy dark green, and it consists of soft, flat needles that are a full inch long, and just ¼ of an inch wide. These are arranged in a spiral around the stems, but as they mature they twist to make two more-or-less parallel rows along the sides of the stem. The needles last on the plant for years, making a dense bush that has a quiet presence and charm. On older plants you may, in spring, see curious greenish clusters along the stems, which open to show yellow flowers without petals. These are male flowers, so the poisonous red seeds seen on some yew trees will not be produced.

Growing Prostrate Japanese Yew

The Prostrate Japanese Yew is a fast-growing and vigorous shrub, adding a foot or more to its spread each year. The new foliage in spring, and after trimming, is bright green, maturing to a rich deep green. This plant is easily trimmed, and even large branches without foliage on them will re-sprout after cutting. This is almost unique among conifer evergreens, which mostly cannot sprout from leafless shoots. So even if you need, at some point, to cut back your plant after it has grown large, this is easily done, and the plant will rapidly regenerate itself.

Uses on Your Property

Use the Prostrate Japanese Yew to fill those awkward areas beneath trees and in shade. This plant thrives and grows vigorously on the north side of your home, or a wall or fence. It will grow well underneath deciduous trees and even in the all-year shade from evergreen trees and bushes. A single plant will fill a large area at least 10 feet across, so a small number of plants can ‘green-up’ even large shady areas. Grow this plant alone for a calm, year-round rich green planting, or interplant with other shade-loving plants like camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas. Use it to create low hedges, and with its rapid, vigorous growth your hedge will be thick and dense in just a few years. For a hedge, plant 3 to 5 feet apart in a row, and trim lightly at least twice a year (in spring and late summer), beginning shortly after planting. Regular trimming will give you a solid, dense and well-branched hedge.

Planting Location

The Prostrate Japanese Yew was made for shade. In nature these plants grow beneath large forest trees, and while it can tolerate dryness in the shade, in similar soil in the sun the leaves can yellow and fall. It will grow well in most soils, except those that are regularly wet. Drier sandy soils, with organic material added, are best of all, but as long as the soil does not remain wet this bush will be happy in your garden. It grows without any winter injury in zone 4, and because of its low form, even in colder areas it often passes the winter safely buried beneath the snow, ready to spring back into action as soon as it melts. It is usually never bothered by pests or diseases and grow happily with minimal care.

History and Origins of the Prostrate Japanese Yew

The Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata) is a native tree of Japan, and it also grows wild in Korea, China and eastern Russia. In nature it grows into a tree 30 or 40 feet tall, but in gardens the wild plant is not grown – instead smaller varieties are used. It is similar in appearance to the European Yew (Taxus baccata), but much hardier in winter, so it is the best choice for northern gardens in America.

The variety called ‘Prostrata’ was found some time before 1937, growing as a seedling at the Evergreen Nursery Company, South Wilton, Connecticut. This vigorous plant must be reproduced from stem pieces, not seeds, and our plants are grown from these pieces, becoming sturdy, vigorous plants growing exactly as we have described here. Avoid plants simply called ‘Japanese Yew’, as the final form of these plants will be unpredictable, and they may grow very tall. The demand for this reliable and hardy plant is always high, for its wonderful tolerance of shade, so our stock will not last long. Order now.