Plant Image Data Base
Taxus x media
Taxus, or Yew
- Form
- culturally a medium-sized evergreen shrub
- maturing at roughly 5' tall by 10' wide (if left
unpruned, as a general dimension for most modern
compact cultivars that spread), but highly
variable among the cultivars, and often sheared
to fit the dimensions needed for a particular
site or hedge
- upright spreading growth habit (although some are
globed or upright columnar)
- slow growth rate (although a medium growth rate
can be achieved with annual pruning that
increases the root to shoot ratio)
- Culture
- full sun to full shade
- performs best in full sun in moist to dry, but
very well-drained soils of average fertility;
highly adaptable to poor soils, compacted soils,
very dry soils, heat, drought, shearing, pruning,
and root pruning, but does not tolerate poorly
drained soils that give it "wet feet",
leading to root rot and the resultant decline or
death
- Foliage
- foliage on the exterior portions of the shrub may
Winter-burn (turn a shade of brown-chartreuse) in
exposed sites of its northern range, but will
recover its green color in early Spring
- some cultivars are noted for their foliage that
is bright green, fine-textured,
Winterburn-resistant, or golden
- Assets
- attractive foliage (dark evergreen, dull shiny,
with flattened needles)
- extreme tolerance to drought, poor soils, and
repeated shearing/light pruning
- usually has recovery from severe pruning (to bare
stems)
- many cultivars are available (although only about
ten are truly needed, since most are sheared into
one of three basic shapes anyway)
- Purpose
- Taxus is the best evergreen hedge or shearable
evergreen shrub for climates in zones 5 through
7, being tolerant of both poor soils and dry
conditions.
- Summary
- Taxus x media is known as a tough,
drought-tolerant evergreen shrub with
flat-needled shiny foliage, often spreading and
used as a formal or informal hedge, especially at
entranceways and foundations and very common in
landscapes of the Midwestern United States.
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