light-green leaves on lime stems

yew

Taxus media 'Hatfieldii'

The yew (Taxus media 'Hatfieldii') is a small, versatile evergreen shrub that is easy to grow and propagate. It features an ivory-white to grey-green bark that grows smoother with age and scale-like foliage with sharp, spiny leaves. It boasts stunning burgundy, red, and orange sprays of petite flowers in the spring and bright crimson berries in the summer. Popularly used as a hedge or in topiary, this species is also known for its red aril seed that has medicinal and herbal benefits. It prefers partial shade to full sun and needs little water to stay healthy.

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

Cones:

Yes

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:

Medium

watering

The yew should be watered approximately every 5 to 7 days, although this can change depending on the season. During the spring, summer, and fall months, it should be watered whenever the soil feels dry to the touch 1 inch below the surface. During the winter months, reduce the watering frequency and only water the yew as needed. Yews prefer moist, well-drained soil and do not respond well when allowed to become completely dry. Too much water can be just as detrimental as too little. Aim to keep the soil slightly moist but not soggy.

sunlight

Yew (Taxus media 'Hatfieldii') is an evergreen shrub that prefers partial to full sun, depending on your climate. In cooler climates, the plant will benefit from more sunlight, while in hotter climates it should receive some protection from the sun during the hottest part of the day. In terms of the amount of sunlight the plant should receive, it needs at least 6 hours of sunlight each day to thrive. Ideally, it should receive 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight every day, along with some shade during the day, particularly during the afternoon.

pruning

Yew (Taxus media 'Hatfieldii') plants should be pruned regularly, usually once or twice a year. Late winter to early spring is the ideal time to prune this species of yew. During pruning, the primary goal should be to reduce the size of the plant, while maintaining its natural shape. Dead, diseased, and damaged branches should be removed first. This will help promote air circulation and sunlight penetration. Care should be taken to thin out any dense, overcrowded branches. This will help reduce the number of overcrowded branches; allowing light and air to reach the interior of the plant. Pruning branches too much at 1 time can damage the plant, so just take off a few branches at a time. It is also important to remember that yews do not tolerate heavy pruning well, so be careful not to over-prune and take off too many branches at once.

Season

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

Yew typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map