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Cephalotaxus fortunei - Hook.

Common Name Chinese Plum Yew
Family Cephalotaxaceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Woodlands, especially in limestone regions[109]. Mixed, coniferous, and broad-leaved forests, thickets and roadsides at elevations of 200 - 3700 metres[266].
Range E. Asia - E. and C. China.
Edibility Rating    (5 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Cephalotaxus fortunei Chinese Plum Yew


Cephalotaxus fortunei Chinese Plum Yew

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Cephalotaxus fortunei is an evergreen Shrub growing to 6 m (19ft 8in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

C. filiformis. C. mascula. C. pendula.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Seed
Edible Uses:

Fruit[2]. Fairly large, it is about 30mm x 15mm[200]. We have no further details, though it is closely related to C. harringtonia, the fruit of which is edible raw if fully ripe[K]. The fruit does not always ripen in Britain, before full ripeness it has a disgusting resinous flavour that coats the mouth and refuses to go away for hours[K]. It is quite possible that the seed of this species is also edible[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Cancer

Substances from the plant have shown anticancer activity[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Hedge  Hedge

Some forms of this species are procumbent in habit and can be used as ground cover in shady places[200]. Very tolerant of pruning, this plant makes a very good hedge in shady positions[200].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground cover  Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a moist well-drained sandy soil but succeeds in most soils though it dislikes dry gravelly or chalky soils[1, 200]. Prefers a position in semi-shade but tolerates full shade[11, 81] and it also succeeds but does not usually thrive in full sun[200]. It grows very well in the mild wet coastal region of W. Scotland where it succeeds even in full sun[200]. Requires a humid sheltered site[200], strongly disliking very exposed positions[1]. Although the dormant plant is very cold-hardy, the young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. The Chinese plum yew is a very slow growing shrub or small tree[185] that has excellent potential as a nut crop in Britain. It usually fruits regularly and well in most parts of the country[K] and does well in Cornwall[59]. Trees growing in the shade of other conifers fruit regularly and heavily at Kew Botanical gardens and, unlike most nut trees there, the seeds do not get eaten by the squirrels[K]. Although we have seen no records of edibility for the seed of this species, the closely related C. harringtonia does have edible seed[K]. There are some named forms selected for their ornamental value[200]. 'Grandis' is a long leafed female form[200]. 'Longifolia' is male but otherwise similar to 'Grandis'[200]. 'Prostrata' (syn 'Prostrate Spreader') is a procumbent ground-covering plant that arose as cuttings from a side-shoot of a normal plant[200], a plant of this cultivar was seen with a very heavy crop of immature fruit in mid September 1994 at Hillier Arboretum[K]. Plants are dioecious, but female plants sometimes produce fruits and infertile seeds in the absence of any male plants[11]. However, at least one male plant for every five females should be grown if you are growing the plants for fruit and seed. Plants have also been known to change sex[81]. Male cones are produced in the axils of the previous year's leaves, whilst female cones are borne at the base of branchlets[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[113], it should then germinate in the following spring[K]. A hard seedcoat can delay germination, especially in if the seed is not sown as soon as it is ripe[81, K]. Stored seed should be cold-stratified and sown in a cold frame in the spring[200]. Germination can take 18 months or more. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter under cover. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Greenwood cuttings of terminal shoots, August/September in a humid cold frame[1, 200]. Difficult[113].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Anhui Sheng (south), Fujian Sheng, Gansu Sheng (south), Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Guizhou Sheng, Henan Sheng (south), Hubei Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng (south), Sichuan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cephalotaxus harringtoniaJapanese Plum YewShrub5.0 6-9 SLMHFSM503
Cephalotaxus harringtonia drupaceaJapanese Plum YewShrub5.0 6-9 SLMHFSM503
Cephalotaxus harringtonia koreanaKorean Plum YewShrub1.5 6-9 SLMHFSM503
Cephalotaxus harringtonia nanaJapanese Plum YewShrub2.0 6-9 SLMHFSM503
Cephalotaxus lanceolataYunnan Plum YewShrub8.0 7-10 SLMHFSNM402
Cephalotaxus oliveri Shrub3.0 7-10 SLMHFSNM304
Cephalotaxus sinensisChinese Plum YewShrub5.0 6-9 SLMHFSM413
Cephalotaxus wilsoniana Tree10.0 7-10 SLMHFSM40 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Hook.

Botanical References

11200266

Links / References

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