Japanese Yew

Japanese yew is the tougher, cold-hardier cousin of English yew, a dense, dark evergreen that grows wider than tall in most landscape forms, creating a spreading mound of flat, dark green needles. The species can reach forty feet, but landscape cultivars range from spreading groundcovers to compact mounds. Like English yew, all parts except the red aril flesh are toxic. Native to Japan, Korea, and northeastern China.

In Western Washington, Japanese yew performs well in sun to shade with well-drained soil. 'Capitata' is a pyramidal form useful for hedging and screening. 'Densa' is a compact, spreading form for foundation plantings. The primary advantage over English yew is greater cold hardiness, though in our mild climate this difference matters less. Root rot in wet soil is the primary disease concern. For a dense, dark, low-maintenance evergreen that takes shearing and shade equally well, Japanese yew is a reliable landscape staple.