Taxus brevifolia

Common Names

Pacific Yew, Western Yew

Summary

Pacific yew is a slow-growing evergreen conifer native to western North America, commonly forming an understory shrub or small tree with an irregular broad crown and drooping branches. Distinctive features include dark yellow-green leaves 0.5–1 inch long arranged in two flat sprays, red arils around seeds on female plants, and scaly red-brown bark; wood is hard, heavy, and resistant to decay.

Cultivation favors cool, moist, well-drained soils with tolerance for sun to shade; reproduction occurs by seed or cuttings, though seed germination is slow and stratification is often required; seeds are dispersed by birds after aril consumption. Taxol, a cancer drug, is produced from bark, prompting conservation concerns and historic bark harvesting; wood has uses in bows and other crafts; the Pacific yew is valued for shade-tolerant understory plantings and habitat planting, with caution due to poisonous bark, leaves, and seeds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

590-984 inches

Spread

36-72 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5a-9b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade (Partial Sun equates to Partial Shade), tolerates full sun and full shade

Soil Type

Deep, moist, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils

Soil pH

Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils; no fixed pH, thrives across a wide pH range as long as soils are well-drained.

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring (April–June)

Foliage Color

Dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

Slow-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Layering, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Birds: Yes; red arils around seeds eaten by songbirds and seeds dispersed by birds, Pollinators: Wind (no attraction of bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, or other pollinators indicated)