Pocket BotanistPlant guide
English yew.
Taxus baccata
Pronounced TAK-sus bak-KAH-tuh
Also known as Canada yew, Common Yew, English yew, European Yew, Irish Yew, Yew
The English yew is a classic evergreen conifer known for its deep green needles and longevity. It's a fantastic choice for formal hedges or as a stately specimen tree in the landscape. You'll love how well it responds to shaping and pruning.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Conifer
- Light
- Full sun to full shade
- Indoor light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Every 7 to 14 days
- Mature size
- 30 to 60 feet
- Growth rate
- Slow
Care
Plant your yew in well draining soil to prevent root rot. Keep an eye out for yellowing needles, which can signal poor drainage or overwatering. It's quite hardy, but it does appreciate a sheltered spot away from harsh winds.
- Watering
- Water deeply once the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced slow release fertilizer in early spring to support new growth.
- Pruning
- Prune in late summer to maintain your desired shape or hedge density.
- Repotting
- Repot only when the plant has clearly outgrown its current container.
- Soil
- Chalky, loamy, or sandy
- Soil pH
- Neutral to alkaline
Safety
- Pets
- This plant is highly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
How to identify it
- Dark green needle like leaves
- Bright red fleshy arils
- Dense and bushy growth habit
- Scaly reddish brown bark
Science
- Family
- Taxaceae
- Genus
- Taxus
- Order
- Pinales
- Class
- Pinopsida
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Also in
Is your english yew looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.