Yew: profile, varieties & care

Yews are absolute classics among evergreen conifers. Whether as a yew hedge or as a tree, the yew has many special features that make it stand out.

The common yew (Taxus baccata) offers the garden owner a wide range of uses because of its good qualities. What it is and what else you need to know about the yew tree, you will find out in this article.

Yew: Origin and characteristics

There are several species in the yew family (Taxaceae), of which the common yew (Taxus baccata) is the most important and only representative native to this country. Yew trees are very robust and can reach a great age. For example, a yew tree in one region of Germany is estimated to be 1500 years old, making it one of the oldest trees in that country. The yew is poisonous in all parts – except for the red aril surrounding the seed. The seed coat is eaten by many birds and is even edible for humans. In winter, besides seed-eaters such as coal tit, greenfinch and nuthatch, fruit-eaters such as blackbird, mistle thrush and jay can of course be observed on yew trees.

The yew is very tolerant of pruning, which is why it is also popular as a hedge. Due to its wide range of habitats, it can be planted in sunny places as well as in the shade. Yew trees are extremely frost-hardy and can also tolerate urban climates. In terms of soil, the yew is quite tolerant, but prefers fresh, nutrient-rich substrates and thrives better in chalky than acidic sites. If the common yew has a place where it can flourish, it reaches sizes of up to 20 m.

In some parts of Europe, yews have become rare, as they have been deliberately cut back to protect farm animals, among other things because of their toxicity. Fortunately, the number of trees is now increasing again. However, their pollen can trigger allergies in some people in spring. Yews are also dioecious. This means that there are female and male specimens of the trees. The plant is generally slow growing and quite expensive to buy, as it is difficult to propagate. With regard to the root system, yews are classified as deep-rooted plants, but they also form many fine roots in the upper soil area.

The most beautiful yew species and varieties

Besides the native common yew (Taxus baccata), there are several other yew species and different varieties. We show you a small selection below:

Irish yew (Taxus baccata ˈFastigiataˈ): This cultivar grows in a columnar shape. It grows up to 7 m high and 3 m wide.

Yellow-fruited yew (Taxus baccata ˈLuteaˈ): At about 6 m tall, this cultivar has a somewhat weaker growth habit than the species and is particularly conspicuous for its yellow aril.

Golden yew (Taxus baccata ˈSummergoldˈ): The seedling selection grows only about 1 m tall and somewhat wider. This variety also stands out due to its yellow needles.

Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata): This is a separate species of yew which, at up to 3 m tall, is much smaller than Taxus baccata . However, the Japanese yew has a higher frost hardiness than its native relatives.

Japanese dwarf yew (Taxus cuspidata ˈNanaˈ): This cultivar of the Japanese yew is even smaller and only reaches heights of 2 m, which is why it fits perfectly into small gardens.

Shrub yew (Taxus x media ˈDensiformisˈ): The yew ˈDensiformisˈ grows about 1.5 m tall and about twice as wide, making it well suited as a shrub or low hedge. It grows quite slowly and has light green needles.

Important care tips

In general, the yew does not need too much care. If you want to achieve beautiful shapes, annual pruning is essential. In addition, regular pruning of the yew is conducive to keeping the plant healthy and handsome.

In order to provide the tree with sufficient nutrients for healthy growth, it is beneficial to fertilise the yew – especially if radical pruning measures are pending or have taken place. Depending on the soil type, annual fertilisation can be useful. On very nutrient-rich soils, fertiliser will hardly be necessary, as the yew does not require large amounts.

Yew turns brown or gets yellow needles:
If the needles of the yew discolour, this can have several reasons. Some of these are listed below:

• Frost dryness: As the yew is evergreen, the trees continue to transpire in winter. If the ground is frozen and yet a lot of sun falls on the yew, the tree loses water through evaporation on the needles. However, because the ground is frozen, the roots cannot absorb new water, which is why some branches can dry out completely and turn brown. Therefore, yews should not be planted in full sun if possible.
• Water deficiency: Drying of the leaves is more common on hot days in summer. Regular watering during long dry periods can help.
• Nutrient deficiency: If the needles are yellow instead of brown, this could also indicate a nutrient deficiency. Proper fertilisation is necessary here.
• Varietal: Yellow or brown leaves can also be normal. For example, as previously mentioned, some yew varieties have yellowish needles per se instead of dark green ones. Even if only a few brown discolourations appear occasionally, this is usually not a problem. Yews, like most conifers, develop new needles every year. That is why older yew needles and those that no longer receive light from new branches are thrown off the tree.

• Diseases: Diseases, mostly from fungal pathogens, can also cause leaf discolouration on yew. These are rare on yew trees, but exact identification is often difficult and treatment is usually not possible. It is therefore advisable to act preventively, to keep the yew tree well-aired by pruning it regularly and to remove diseased shoots. If the branches dry quickly after rain and after pruning, fungi cannot spread as easily.
• Animal pests: Animal pests can also cause problems for yew trees and lead to discolouration of the needles. For example, the larvae of the vine weevil damage the tree by feeding on the roots. Once you have identified the beetles in the garden, you can try to collect them or kill the larvae by treating the soil with nematodes.

Are yew hardy?

The common yew is classified in the winter hardiness zone WHZ 6a, which means that it is completely hardy in all regions of this country. The Japanese yew is even more frost hardy with a WHZ of 5a. In very cold locations, new shoots of young yews can sometimes be damaged. However, it is highly unlikely that the whole tree will die as a result.

In winter, the yew tree is a good place to watch birds. For the coal tit, for example, the seeds of the yew tree are not poisonous, but constitute winter food. The mistle thrush even jealously defends its yew tree against food competitors – that’s how popular the glowing red aril is with the fruit-eaters.