The Yew Family Is A Wonderful Evergreen Conifer

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The Yew Plant Family is known for its striking foliage and a number of varieties. This plant specimen does well in a number of different geographic locations. There is the tree up right form, standing, and spreading shrubs. It is native to western Asia, Europe, North Africa, and parts of the northern hemisphere. Many of the species can endure cold weather climates. This is a specie I have used in gardens and landscapes creating a wonderful accent plant. The thin and slender evergreen leaves as well as the shape and texture, make this plant family a wonderful addition to an outside area.

A couple of other evergreens that look magnificent with this specie are the Loropetalums and the Cypress family. Intermingling all three plant families throughout a specific landscape or garden, will create an array of different colors and textures.

The English or Common is a popular variety. The bark of the trees have been used for years in making the longbow. This Yew specimen is especially native in the Asia, Europe and South Africa regions. It does well in moist soil and must have room to show off its dark colored trunk and leaves. It can be a slow grower but also a very long life span. The English variety tree can mature up to fifty feet in height. This is a tree form that can take on a symmetrical form.



After pruning a Yew, a good Holly Tone product or a fertilizer, such as a good mixture of phosphate and nitrogen.(10-10-10 is a good choice) Also applying some organic mushroom compost to the soil. The compost is an organic fertilizer that will last up to one year.

The Common variety has a male and female tree. The male tree produces scaly cones, and the female trees develops a scarlet or ruby colored berry. These berries are poisonous. A great specie to use as a backdrop also. Some other varieties of the English plant, are the Aurea, which has golden yellow leaves the first year, and the leaves turn a deep green color the second year. Dovastoniana is known well in England, and is characterized by its horizontal and spreading branches. Fastigiata is the Irish Yew, and is a beautiful coned shaped tight upright tree. The Repandens is the spreading variety and looks sensational in a rock garden or over some larger rocks. These varieties will do well in zones five through ten in the United States.

The American or Taxus canadensis variety is one of the hardiest of all of the plant family. It survives in zones three through seven. The American can reach up to six to six and a half feet tall, and up to eight feet wide. This specie does well in dense forests that provide a good amount of moisture. It can take shade, and loves the cooler weather and winter months. The berries are bright red and also creates a wonderful ornamental shrub throughout the colder winter months The American Yew will work well with other shade garden plants.

The Japanese or Taxus cuspidata variety is one of the most well known species for a landscape area. The hybrid, Taxus x media is also wonderful in a garden. Both of these varieties can be in upright form or spreading. If left unpruned, this variety can mature up to fifteen feet. It is also considered a faster grower compared to other of this family species. The plant can be used as a hedge, foundation planting, and also can create a great topiary. The Japanese specimen is also very tolerant of pollution, and will survive well in an urban environment. The Japanese Yew Pine is a variety that is native to Japan. It us a larger evergreen tree that will grow well in zones seven through eleven in the United States. It can mature anywhere from thirty to fifty feet tall, but can be kept in shrub form by keeping pruned to around six to eight feet. It can take full sun or partial shade and produces blue tone berries. The macrophyllus species is the best to have as a shrub in a container or landscape.

Each of these varieties of Yews above are dynamic in many different style gardens, and can create a rich foliage specimen throughout the year. The Yew is definitely a plant to consider in many different geographic locations.