Cephalotaxus sinensis, commonly known as Chinese Plum Yew, is an evergreen coniferous shrub or small tree native to the understory of mixed forests and mountainous regions in central and southern China. It can grow up to 10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters) in height and 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 meters) in width. The Chinese Plum Yew has dark green, needle-like leaves arranged in two ranks along the stems, giving it a distinctive, flattened appearance. It produces inconspicuous, non-showy male and female cones on separate plants, with the female cones developing into fleshy, plum-like fruits.

The Chinese Plum Yew is appreciated for its shade tolerance and is often used in shaded or woodland garden settings. It is also suitable for hedges or as a specimen plant due to its slow growth rate and dense foliage. This species prefers moist, well-drained soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH and can tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to deep shade. It is relatively low maintenance and is resistant to most pests and diseases. However, it can suffer from root rot in poorly drained soils. The Chinese Plum Yew is not known to be invasive when grown outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0