Japanese Yew

(Taxus cuspidata)

Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata)

Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova

CC BY-SA 4.0

Image By: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova

Recorded By:

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Estimated Native Range

Summary

Taxus cuspidata, commonly known as Japanese Yew, is an evergreen tree or large shrub native to the understory of cool, moist forests in Northeast Asia, including parts of China, Japan, Korea, and Russia. It typically grows to 10–18 m tall, with a trunk up to 60 cm in diameter. The foliage is dark green, needle-like, and arranged in two flat rows on the branches. The seed cones are highly modified, each containing a single seed 4–8 mm long, partly surrounded by a modified scale that develops into a soft, bright red berry-like structure called an aril, 8–12 mm long and wide, which is open at the end. The arils are mature 6–9 months after pollination, and while attractive, they are toxic to humans and animals if ingested. Japanese Yew can live for over a millennium, as evidenced by individuals from Sikhote-Alin.

Japanese Yew is valued for its dense, dark green foliage and ornamental red arils, making it a popular choice for hedges, foundation plantings, and topiary in gardens. It is also used in bonsai. This species is adaptable to a range of light conditions, from full sun to part shade, and prefers well-drained soils. It is drought-tolerant once established, requiring low amounts of water. However, care should be taken when planting Japanese Yew as it is potentially invasive in some regions and its roots can be aggressive. Additionally, all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested, with the exception of the aril flesh (not the seed).CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
Height: 30-50 feet
Width: 20-25 feet
Growth Rate: Slow
Flower Color: N/A
Flowering Season: Non-Flowering
Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium, High
Drainage: Fast, Medium

Common Uses

Bird Garden, Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant, Hedges, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

The understory of cool, moist forests in Northeast Asia

Other Names

Common Names: Spreading Yew, Japanische Eibe, Japán Tiszafa, Tasso Del Giappone, Japanse Taxus, Тис Остроконечный (Tis Ostrokonechnyj), Тис Японский (Tis Yaponskij), Japansk Idegran, 东北红豆杉 (Dong Bei Hong Dou Shan), 주목

Scientific Names: , Taxus cuspidata, Taxus cuspidata f. thayerae, Taxus cuspidata f. aurescens, Taxus cuspidata var. densa, Taxus cuspidata f. densa, Taxus cuspidata f. fructu-luteo, Taxus cuspidata f. luteobaccata, Taxus cuspidata f. minima, Taxus cuspidata var. luteobaccata

GBIF Accepted Name: Taxus cuspidata Siebold & Zucc.