Growing Yew Trees: Tips at a Glance
Yew Trees: A Field Guide. Yew is the tree of life, spanning millennia, with hard wood that lasts for hundreds of thousands of years.
- Type Evergreen tree or shrub
- Oldest on Record 2,000+ years
- USDA Zones 6-10
- Light Sun or shade
- Form Clip to any shape
- When to Plant Early spring
- Design Tip Fastigiate forms for height
- Other Uses Shelter belt tree
- Peak Season Year-round structure
Yew Trees: A Field Guide
Yew is the tree of life, spanning millennia, with hard wood that lasts for hundreds of thousands of years.
Taxus baccata also is the tree of death, every part of it toxic, except the red flesh that encases the poisonous seeds. The Latin name for yew is particularly descriptive, with Taxus descending from the same word that gives us “toxic” and baccata meaning “laden with berries.” For gardeners, yew is a magical tree, unbeatable for topiary, providing a garden with a sense of dignity and intrigue.