Species Japanese yew

Japanese yew

Taxus cuspidata

Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) is an evergreen shrub native to Japan, Korea, and northeast China. It is a popular ornamental plant, with dark, glossy leaves and deep red, fleshy fruits. This yew tree can reach a height of up to 10m and has a dense, slow-growing conical shape. Its unique cone-shaped foliage is composed of short, flat needles and is known to be very hardy and drought-resistant. Japanese yew is an ideal accent plant for any garden and requires minimal maintenance and care. Plant this shrub for its graceful form, colorful berries, and dazzling foliage!

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Cutting,Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation,Seed Propagation,Tissue Culture

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 7

Flowers:

Non-flowering Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Poisonous To Humans:

Yes

Poisonous To Pets:

Yes

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Care Level:

Moderate

watering

Japanese yew requires moderate watering, especially during summer when the soil should be kept moist but never soggy. During winter, it's better to allow the soil to mostly dry out between waterings. It's important to keep water away from the stems of the plant, as they can rot if kept constantly moist. When watering, it's best to water slowly and deeply around the base of the plant. Aim to water once per week in the spring and summer, and every 2-3 weeks in the fall and winter.

sunlight

Japanese yews prefer to grow in partial to full shade, so they need only a few hours of direct sunlight each day. The best time for Japanese yew to receive its sunlight is during the morning hours, generally before 10:00 am. This plant will thrive in indirect, bright light for the majority of the day, then direct sun in the morning. Too much direct sunlight can damage the foliage of the Japanese yew, so be sure not to keep it in direct sun beyond the morning hours.

pruning

Japanese yew should be pruned lightly in early spring, before new growth appears. Pruning the plant lightly will create a more compact shape, help maintain its form, and remove dead or diseased branches. When pruning Japanese yew, aim to remove only a few branches at a time, removing no more than 1-third of the crown. In addition, any branches that are crossing over or rubbing against each other should also be removed.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Taxus cuspidata typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map