English yew Taxus baccata
English yew (Taxus baccata) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Taxaceae family. It grows 4–12 m (13–39 ft) tall and 3–8 m (10–26 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and low water, and is hardy to about -28 °C (-18 °F). Space plants about 3 m (10 ft) apart.
Plan English yew in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
English yew at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Taxaceae |
| Mature height | 4–12 m (13–39 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–8 m (10–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 3 m (10 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 3 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -28 °C (-18 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 5) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇺🇸 United States |
Is English yew toxic?
- People: severely toxic
- Cats: severely toxic
- Dogs: severely toxic
- Parts: needles, seeds, bark
All parts except the red aril flesh contain taxine alkaloids that can be fatal.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with English yew
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and low water.
See English yew in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Longwood Gardens (16 plants)
- Monet’s gardens at Giverny (2 plants)
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (1 plants)
Questions about English yew
- How far apart should I plant English yew?
- About 3 m (10 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–8 m (10–26 ft).
- Does English yew need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 3 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does English yew need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is English yew?
- It tolerates about -28 °C (-18 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 5.
- Is English yew poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is severely toxic; for dogs severely toxic; for people severely toxic. All parts except the red aril flesh contain taxine alkaloids that can be fatal.
- What grows well with English yew?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for English yew. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Tolerates heavy pruning; slow growing.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Dwarf mountain pine Pinus mugo
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Black walnut Juglans nigra
- Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
- Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata
- Saucer magnolia Magnolia x soulangeana
- Silver birch Betula pendula
- Olive Olea europaea