Main features
Height |
5-18m |
Width |
5-10m |
Light / shadow demands |
light shade, no direct sunlight, semi-shade, sun |
pH-Value |
slightly alkaline, neutral, alkaline, slightly acidic |
Soil |
loamy, sandy-loamy, all substrates |
Characteristics
Habit |
Usually multi-stemmed, medium-sized tree, sometimes only large shrub; (3) 5-15 m tall, 5-10 m wide, broadly conical or ovoid, later domed or round crown; branches asymmetrical; diagonally or arching upright twigs nodding to pendent; branches to the ground; slow-growing, 10-30 cm a year. |
Crown |
broad ovoid, broad conical, irregular broad ovoid, broad conical, irregular |
Blossom |
Dioecious, inconspicuous |
Leaves |
Shiny dark green to black green needles, light pale green underneath, arranged in two lines, 2-3 cm long, more radial on the shoot tips. |
Fruits |
Red, fleshy arils, ca. 1 cm large, greenish seed inside |
Roots |
Cordate to deep roots; intense, dense fibrous root system |
Demands |
Sun to semi-shade, full shade tolerated but not favourable; tolerates warmth, usually frost hardy; tolerates urban environments, moderately wind resistant; good for cutting |
Soil |
Moderately dry to moist, likes high humidity, slightly acidic to alkaline on all substrates except peat; if humidity, heat, and humus in the soil is high, the plants will probably suffer from fir-tree weevils. |
Note |
All parts of the yew are poisonous except for the red seed casing! Taxus baccata takes well to cutting into old age, even shooting from sawed off stumps; it can be trained well |
Hardiness Zone |
Zone 6a see also chapter on topiary plants |
Bee pasture/nectar |
Yes |
