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Summary

Bloom Color: Green, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Pyramidal.

Physical Characteristics

Taxus x media is an evergreen Shrub growing to 6 m (19ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen from September 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 and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw[K]. Very sweet and gelatinous, most people find it delicious though some find it sickly[K]. The fruit is a fleshy berry about 10mm in diameter and containing a single seed[200]. All other parts of this plant, including the seed, are highly poisonous. When eating the fruit you should spit out the large seed found in the fruit's centre. Should you swallow the whole seed it will just pass straight through you without harm, if the seed has been bitten into, however, it could cause some problems.

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.

Modern research has shown that yew trees contain the substance 'taxol' in their shoots and bark. Taxol has shown exciting potential as an anti-cancer drug, particularly in the treatment of ovarian cancers[222, 238]. This remedy is very toxic and, even when used externally, should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[238]. See also the notes above on toxicity.

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Wood

Wood - strong, hard, heavy. Used for paddles, fence posts etc.

Special Uses

Food Forest

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Hedge, Massing, Screen, Superior hedge. Thrives in almost any soil, acid or alkaline, as long as it is well-drained[200]. Succeeds in dry soils. Plants are very shade tolerant[82]. Dormant plants are very cold-hardy in Britain, though the new growth in spring can be damaged by light frosts[K]. Leaves have a reddish tinge when the plants are grown in a sunny position[200]. Plants produce very little fibrous root and should be planted in their final positions when still small[200]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. The cultivar 'Sargentii' was 3 metres tall and 1 metre wide at the Hillier Arboretum in September 1993. It was growing well and carrying a good crop of tasty fruit though the harvest time seemed to be somewhat later than that of T. baccata[K]. Special Features: Not North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - can be very slow to germinate, often taking 2 or more years[78, 80]. It is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn when it should germinate 18 months later. Stored seed may take 2 years or more to germinate. 4 months warm followed by 4 months cold stratification may help reduce the germination time[113]. Harvesting the seed 'green' (when fully developed but before it has dried on the plant) and then sowing it immediately has not been found to reduce the germination time because the inhibiting factors develop too early[80]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in pots in a cold frame. The seedlings are very slow-growing and will probably require at least 2 years of pot cultivation before being large enough to plant out. Any planting out is best done in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[K]. This is a hybrid species, it will not breed true from seed. Cuttings of half-ripe terminal shoots, 5 - 8cm long, July/August in a shaded frame. Should root by late September but leave them in the frame over winter and plant out in late spring[78]. High percentage[11]. Cuttings of ripe terminal shoots, taken in winter after a hard frost, in a shaded frame[113].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Australia,

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 itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Cephalotaxus fortunei	Chinese Plum Yew	Shrub	6.0	6-9	S	LMH	FSN	M	5	1	3
Cephalotaxus harringtonia	Japanese Plum Yew	Shrub	5.0	6-9	S	LMH	FS	M	5	0	3
Cephalotaxus harringtonia drupacea	Japanese Plum Yew	Shrub	5.0	6-9	S	LMH	FS	M	5	0	3
Cephalotaxus harringtonia koreana	Korean Plum Yew	Shrub	1.5	6-9	S	LMH	FS	M	5	0	3
Cephalotaxus harringtonia nana	Japanese Plum Yew	Shrub	2.0	6-9	S	LMH	FS	M	5	0	3
Cephalotaxus lanceolata	Yunnan Plum Yew	Shrub	8.0	7-10	S	LMH	FSN	M	4	0	2
Cephalotaxus oliveri		Shrub	3.0	7-10	S	LMH	FSN	M	3	0	4
Cephalotaxus sinensis	Chinese Plum Yew	Shrub	5.0	6-9	S	LMH	FS	M	4	1	3
Cephalotaxus wilsoniana		Tree	10.0	7-10	S	LMH	FS	M	4	0
Taxus baccata	Yew, English yew, Common Yew	Tree	15.0	5-7	S	LMH	FSN	DM	3	4	4
Taxus brevifolia	Pacific Yew	Tree	15.0	5-9	S	LMH	FSN	DM	3	4	3
Taxus canadensis	Canadian Yew	Tree	1.5	4-8	S	LMH	FSN	DM	3	4	1
Taxus cuspidata	Japanese Yew	Tree	10.0	4-7	S	LMH	FSN	DM	3	4	2

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.

Taxus x media - Rehder.