English yew, Taxus baccata - Shrub / tree

CAUTION: toxic if eaten

They have small needle-like, dark green leaves on horizontal branches and fleshy, cup-shaped, bright-red autumn fruits on female plants. The dark green foliage of this slow-growing, evergreen conifer provides an excellent background for shrub and herbaceous borders. Broadly conical in shape, it's tolerant to dry shade, chalky and acid soils and urban pollution.

There are many named varieties of yew that make excellent architectural or specimen plants in the garden, several types are available with golden yellow leaves or patches of yellow against the green.

Height and spread: to 10m+ x 8m+ (30ft x 25ft) if left to their own devices over a period of decades, readily kept in check by trimming, particularly as they are slow growing.

Planting distance when used for hedging

60cm, 24"

1.2-4m, 4-12ft