Yew plants tolerate pruning well, so they are often used to create borders and hedges.
Among yew trees there are both dioecious species (seed and anther cones are on different plants) and monoecious species (on one). The bark of the plants is reddish-brown, the branches are arranged alternately on the trunk.
The needles are flat, soft, 2-3 cm long, dark green, arranged spirally on vertical shoots, in two rows on horizontal shoots.
Mature seeds are surrounded by a fleshy seedling (aryllus), colored red and goblet-shaped. There are varieties with bright yellow aryllus. The seeds are small, 5-8 mm long, 4-5 mm wide. They fall in autumn and are often spread by birds.
Yews are decorative at any time of the year. They look especially elegant in the fall, when bright red beads of succulent aneuryses flash on the branches, in which seeds are visible through the dark pupil. They look not only beautiful, but also appetizing, but all parts of the plant, except the aryllus itself, are poisonous.
Types of yew
Yew berry(Taxus baccata) previously occupied a very large territory (Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor), but now it is found only in the form of small relict centers.
The reasons for the reduction in range are the high quality of wood and extremely slow growth.
Yew wood is durable and has bactericidal properties - it not only resists rotting for an unusually long time, but also kills microorganisms in the surrounding air.
pointed yew(Taxus cuspidata) is found in nature on Far East.
This is a 20-meter tree, although in unfavorable conditions it can take the form of a creeping shrub not exceeding 1.5 m in height.
This species is more winter-hardy than yew berry (adult specimens tolerate frosts down to -40 ° C), and is undemanding to soil.
It tolerates air pollution better than other species of the genus. It has a large number of decorative forms, for example “Minima”, reaching a height of 30 cm, and “Nana” - up to 1 m.
Yew medium(Taxus media) is a natural hybrid of yew and pointed yew, it is frost-resistant and easily propagated by cuttings. The species has a large number of decorative forms.
Canadian yew(Taxus canadensis) occurs naturally in the east North America. This is a low, shrub-like tree 1-2 m tall. Adult specimens tolerate frosts down to -35 °C.
In ornamental gardening, two are most often used: decorative forms: “Aurea” and “Pyramidalis”. The first is distinguished by yellowish needles and small size (not exceeding 1 m in height), and is cultivated in rock gardens. The second has a regular pyramidal crown, the diameter of which can reach 1.5 m with a plant height of about 1 m.
Short-leaved yew(Taxus brevifolia) is less common in gardens and parks. In nature, it grows on the Pacific coast of North America. This is a tree or shrub 5-20 m tall.
Selecting the soil
Yews prefer nutritious, light, well-drained soil. Optimal composition: turf soil (3 parts), peat (2 parts), sand (2 parts). Yew berry grows well in both alkaline and slightly acidic soils.
The pointed yew does not tolerate acidic soils well, while the Canadian yew, on the contrary, loves slightly acidic soils, although it can grow in neutral ones. The medium yew is the most unpretentious among all species, which is why its forms are most in demand by gardeners. However, it should be borne in mind that this species prefers neutral and slightly alkaline soils.
Yews grow poorly in waterlogged areas; heavy metal salts and environmental pollution can harm them. This makes it impossible to use them for urban greening. The root system of yews lies very deep, reaching aquifers, so they are drought resistant.
How to plant yew
The recommended distance between plants when planting is 0.5-2.5 m and depends on the size of the adult yew. The root collar should be level with the ground surface. The depth of the hole for planting is 60-70 cm. To create a “living” hedge, trenches are dug 50 cm deep (for single-row planting) or 70 cm (for double-row planting).
When planting yew, and also a year later, in the spring, complex mineral fertilizer is applied to the soil. In the first 2 years, young plants require watering (once a month, 10 liters per plant), sprinkling has a positive effect (once every 2 weeks).
The soil in the tree trunk circles is loosened in the first 2-3 years, removing weeds. It is recommended to mulch the root system with wood chips or large sawdust in a layer of up to 10 cm.
Comfortable conditions for yew
Young yew trees may suffer from low temperatures in winter, so late autumn they can be covered with dry peat with a layer of 5-7 cm.
In early spring, yews, like all evergreen shrubs, are at risk of burns. To protect against them, use a cover made of spruce branches or craft paper.
Another feature of young yew plantings is the fragility of the branches in winter. Large amounts of snow can seriously break the plants, so it is recommended to tie them in one bunch. Adult yews are quite winter-hardy.
Yews are extremely shade-tolerant, however, good lighting has a positive effect on their growth and seed formation.
On the other hand, specimens planted under the canopy of other species or under the cover of walls tolerate winter cold better.
When looking for a place in the garden for a yew tree, you need to take both of these points into account.
Yew tolerates shearing and pruning well when forming the crown, so it is often used to create “living” hedges, garden labyrinths and topiary sculpture. If the task of crown formation is not pursued, only dry shoots are removed.
Features of yew propagation
Yews propagate by seeds and cuttings. The seeds ripen in the fall, they are either sown immediately or collected and stored in a cool room with a temperature of +5 ° C and low humidity. Autumn sowing gives top scores, in spring, 7-month stratification is required at a temperature of +3-5 °C. Even after this, the seeds germinate only after 2 months.
Decorative yews are propagated vegetatively. Cuttings are cut in September-October, by which time the shoots have time to ripen. The length of the cuttings is 15-20 cm, the presence of side shoots is allowed.
It is recommended to use 3-5 year old branches for propagation; annual branches take root worse; they should be taken “with a heel” (a piece of old wood below the node). The needles are removed from the bottom of the cuttings and placed in a mixture of peat and sand (2:1).
Autumn cuttings are planted in boxes, which are transferred to a greenhouse or room for the winter. You can also cut yew trees in the spring, in April-May. The older the plant from which the cuttings were taken, the worse they take root.
In this case, the success of reproduction will be ensured by treatment with a growth stimulant (heteroauxin, etc.). Rooting takes about 3 months. For autumn cuttings, young plants are planted in the ground in May, for spring cuttings - in September.
The decorative qualities of yew make it very attractive for use in the country. The beauty of this tree was noticed back in the Baroque era, when yew began to be often used in hedges, to create borders and simply planted in gardens. The thick, hard crown of the yew, however, can be trimmed well. the site will tell you which varieties of yew are most suitable for growing in the country.
The evergreen yew belongs to the genus Taxus. These coniferous plants are distinguished by their longevity and can be found in the most different places of our planet. Yew is a dioecious species, that is, there can be male and female plants, this feature quite rare for representatives of coniferous species. On male plants, in due course, balls with golden-colored pollen are formed, while on female plants, seeds with a red periospermium develop. It is interesting that yew, although a coniferous species, does not have cones; instead, it has berries and fruits, but for humans they, like its seeds, are completely inedible and even poisonous.
He tolerates it better than most bad conditions, will grow on chalky soils, it doesn’t need much sunlight, so he feels good even in a shaded place, while the polluted atmosphere does not pose a big threat to him. With all this, yew will begin to wither in poorly drained or overly moist soils.
The color of the leaves is dark green, the size is small - from 1.5 to 3.5 cm, they grow in two rows.
Yew lives up to 3000 years, but its growth is extremely slow.
Types and varieties of yew: berry and coniferous
On summer cottage Some varieties of yew can be used to create magnificent hedges and living fences. Below we will describe several of the most popular varieties used for this purpose.
The berry yew is very popular among summer residents, varieties of which are upright, and there are also varieties that grow in the form of a bush with a beautiful dense crown.
The properties of the Fastigiata variety, which also belongs to the yew berry species, make it very convenient for forming living fences. It has a straight trunk, short branches are often located, and grows up to 1-2 m.
Fastigiata Aurea is a variety with yellow needles, while Fastigiata Aureomarginta has a tench yellow border on the leaves. Among the low-growing yews, one can distinguish the variety Semperaurea with a yellow color.
Among the yews there are also varieties that creep along the ground, such as Repandens, which is characterized by very slow growth. Over the course of a decade, it will grow by only 50 centimeters, but despite its thick trunk, it always retains correct form umbrella It spreads, with horizontally growing branches extending from the trunk and clinging to the ground. The needles are up to 3 cm, dark green with a bluish tint, poisonous to animals and humans. This variety is propagated by grafting and layering.
It is often used for landscaping terraces; it grows well in a container, good for group plantings and as an element of a rock garden.
A beautiful rounded bush is formed by the Hicksti variety, a medium yew species. The trunk is straight, up to 2 m in height, while the branches are located quite sparsely, the color of its needles is dark green.
The Nana yew variety is also a creeping, slow-growing variety. The crown of this low tree is wide-spreading, the ends of the needles are colored yellow.
Yew tree in the country (photo)
Yew is widely used for garden decoration due to its properties such as good shade tolerance and pruning tolerance. The variety of yew shapes allows it to be used for different purposes. Tall tree-like and columnar varieties can be planted separately; their spectacular appearance is always impressive. And for group plantings, almost all varieties without exception are suitable; it is recommended to plant others next to them flowering shrubs.
Yew is especially often chosen for creating hedges; the crown of the yew can be quite easily given the desired shape and a magnificent green wall can be created. Many types of ornamental shrubs look very advantageous next to the yew. Roses, magnolias and other perennials look wonderful against the background of its green needles. flowering plants.
Planting and caring for yew in the country
As already mentioned, yew is very unpretentious, prefers calcareous soils that are well permeable to water. For planting, it is better to use seedlings in containers. When purchasing seedlings, pay attention to ensure that the needles look healthy. To plant, you will need to dig a hole with a depth equal to the size of the earthen ball around the roots and 2 times wider. After removing the plant from the container, you need to lightly loosen the lump of earth around the roots with your fingers and straighten the crumpled roots. Then you should lower the seedling into the hole and cover it with fertilized soil. After compacting the soil, you need to water it. In northern latitudes, it is recommended to choose places that are windless and not in the sun for yew; you can also make a fence using burlap.
Yew should be pruned so that the cuts of the lower branches are covered by the branches growing higher. Every spring, old brown shoots must be removed. In summer, the crown of yew trees that form a hedge can be shaped into a ball or cone.
Yew (lat. Taxus), or yew- a genus of the Yew family, which includes 8 species of coniferous, slow-growing shrubs and trees. One of the species grows in Europe and northern Africa, three in Asia, including the Far East, and four in North America. Today, plants of this genus, due to their unpretentiousness and high decorative value, are widely used in landscape design and landscaping, but in nature yew is found less and less often.
Planting and caring for yew (in brief)
- Landing: during the time period from late August to October.
- Lighting: bright sunlight.
- The soil: well-drained, fertile, but can also grow on poor soils. Soils that are too acidic or too wet are not suitable for the plant.
- Watering: regular - once a month with a water consumption of 1-1.5 buckets - only for plants up to three years old. Mature yew trees need regular watering only during periods of prolonged drought. In the evenings in the heat, it is advisable to sprinkle the crown.
- Feeding: once a year with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer.
- Trimming: Since yew grows slowly, its crown will need to be formed in adulthood, but it is undesirable to cut the shoots by more than a third of the length. Pruning is carried out in early April, before the buds open on the trees.
- Reproduction: seeds and cuttings.
- Pests: yew false scale insects, gall midges, pine cutworms and spruce needle-eating budworms.
- Diseases: brown schutte, fomoz, necrosis and fusarium.
- Properties: All plant organs contain poison.
Read more about growing yew below.
Yew tree - description
The genus Yew is represented by dioecious plants. The bark of the yew is scaly, red-brown, the crown is ovoid-cylindrical, often multi-vertexed. Yew branches are located on the trunk in a whorled pattern. Dark green, soft and flat needles are arranged spirally on the shoots, and in two rows on the side branches. The length of the needles is from 2 to 3.5 cm. On female trees, red berries are formed that do not fall off until winter. Shrub yew rarely grows above 10 meters, while the height of the tree yew can reach 20-30 meters or more, and the diameter of its trunk is 4 m. Yew wood has bactericidal properties due to the large quantity phytoncides: if the ceilings in the house or furniture are made of yew, then the home is reliably protected from infections. It was the hunt for high-quality, hard yew wood, which is popularly called “non-wood,” that was the reason that today yew is listed in the Red Book.
Yew trees live up to 3000 years, and their amazing ability to quickly recover after pruning allows you to create plants from crowns various shapes, which explains the high popularity of yew in garden culture. In terms of shade tolerance, yew has no equal among trees, although it grows well in lighted places. However, you should know that all yew organs are poisonous.
Planting yew
When to plant yew
Yew is planted in the garden from late August to October. If you live in a region with a warm climate, then plant yew in October, where it is convenient for you, but if summer is short in your area, it is better to grow yew in a sunny place and plant in late summer or early autumn. Seedlings with a closed root system can be planted throughout the growing season, but no later than October in warm regions and early-mid September in areas with early and cold winters.
In the photo: Tis
The yew plant should be protected from drafts at least in the first years of its life. Yew prefers fertile, light and well-drained soil, for example, a mixture of two parts peat, two parts sand and three parts turf or leaf soil. However, it can also grow on poor soils. The plant does not tolerate soil that is too acidic or too wet.
How to plant yew
The pit for a yew seedling should be at least 70 cm deep and 20 cm wide than the root ball. hedge It is more convenient to plant yew trees in a trench 50-70 cm deep. The distance between two yew trees should be from 1.5 to 2 m, and seedlings in a hedge are placed at intervals of at least half a meter.
Before planting yew, a layer of drainage material about 20 cm thick should be laid at the bottom of the hole. River sand is used as drainage, broken brick, pebbles or crushed stone. Then the pre-watered seedling is carefully removed from the container, lowered into the pit and the free space is filled with soil of the composition we described, mixed with a complex mineral fertilizer. This can be Kemira-universal, 100 g of which is added to each m² of soil, or Nitroammofoska, which needs 1 g per liter of substrate, or copper sulfate at the rate of 15 g for the same amount of earthen mixture. As a result of planting, the root collar of the seedling should be at surface level. After planting, the soil around the seedling is compacted and watered abundantly, and when the water is completely absorbed, trunk circle mulch with compost or peat.
Caring for yew in the garden
How to grow yew
Planting and caring for yew is not difficult. Yew needs to be watered, its tree trunk area kept clean and loosened regularly. Young plants need to be covered for the winter and protected from sunburn in the spring. It is also advisable to carry out preventive measures to protect yew from pests and diseases. As the yew matures, it may require pruning.
Only yew trees under three years old need regular watering: the soil in their tree trunk circle is moistened once a month, spending a bucket and a half of water on each plant. Adult yews practically do not need watering; usually natural precipitation is enough for them. In addition, they can extract moisture from deep in the soil with their powerful roots. But it will be easier for yews to survive a prolonged drought with regular watering and sprinkling of the crown. The wet soil around the tree trunk needs to be loosened to a depth of 10-15 cm, especially in the first three years after planting, otherwise a crust will form on the soil, preventing oxygen from reaching the roots. Simultaneously with loosening, weeds should be removed, on which harmful insects often settle. To make your work easier, mulch the tree trunk circle with a layer of peat, pine needles or sawdust 8-10 cm thick.
In the photo: Yew berries on a branch
If you added fertilizer to the soil when planting the yew tree, it will last for the whole year. In the future, fertilizers are applied annually. You can use the same Nitroammofoska in the amount of 50-70 g per m² or Kemiru-universal - 100 g/m².
Yew grows very slowly, so in the first years the plant does not need pruning. Mature trees and bushes are easy to form a crown; they tolerate even heavy pruning, but still try to shorten the shoots by no more than a third of the length. Dry, diseased, frostbitten branches must be removed completely. It is best to prune in early April, before the buds swell.
Pests and diseases of yew
As for pests, sucking insects pose a danger to yew: yew false scale insects and gall midges, and among the pine-eating pests, pine cutworm and spruce needle-eater can annoy the yew. As a result of the activity of pests, the yew turns yellow, its needles and branches dry out and fall off. Make it a rule every year in the spring, before the sap begins to flow, to treat the yew and its tree trunk with a solution of Karbofos or Nitrafen. If you find pests on yew during the growing season, spray the plant and the surface of the soil underneath it two or three times with Rogor or another preparation of similar action. However, it is unlikely that you will be able to get rid of insects in one session, so be prepared to spray the yew with insecticide again in 10-12 days.
Among the diseases that affect the yew are brown schutte, phomosis, necrosis and fusarium. They manifest themselves in different ways, but any change should alert you appearance pine needles main reason development of diseases - mechanical damage yew bark, opening the way for fungal infections. Diseases occur when yew is grown in low areas, in heavy clay soils. To improve drainage and remove from root area excess moisture, drive several pieces into the soil around the perimeter of the trunk circle of the diseased plant. plastic pipe up to 30 cm long, and treat the yew itself with a biofungicide. As a preventative measure, treat yew with copper-containing fungicides every spring and every fall.
Yew transplant
It is best to replant yew in the spring, when the soil has warmed up. Select appropriate place, prepare landing hole the right size, as described in our article, dig up the yew, move it to a new location, place it in the pit so that the root collar is level with the surface, and complete planting. Be sure to then water the soil around the tree trunk and mulch the surface around the plant with organic material.
Yew propagation
How to propagate yew
Yew is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Seed propagation is more labor-intensive and takes much longer than vegetative methods, and its results are unpredictable, since the generative method does not always preserve the varietal characteristics of the parents. Therefore, seed propagation is used to obtain species of yews and to breed new plant varieties. Propagating yew by cuttings is faster and more reliable, and most importantly, young plants completely inherit the varietal characteristics of the mother tree.
In the photo: Branch of yew berry
Yew is also propagated by grafting, but this is best done by specialists.
Yew propagation by cuttings
For cuttings you will need sections of three to five year old shoots 15-20 cm long. They are harvested in September-October or April-May. The lower part of the cuttings is cleared of needles, and the cut is treated with a growth stimulator, after which the cuttings are planted in tubs filled with a substrate of one part sand and two parts peat. If the procedure is carried out in the fall, then the cuttings are kept warm all winter and planted in the garden in the spring. If cuttings are carried out in the spring, then you can first plant the cuttings in a greenhouse under a film, and when their roots grow, they are transplanted into the garden. Rooting lasts 3-4 months, and all this time the substrate should be slightly moist. Remove the covering from the cuttings only at the end of summer so that they have time to get used to the garden before the cold weather. For the first three years, seedlings are covered for the winter so as not to expose their root system to the danger of frostbite.
Growing yew from seeds
Germination rate of yew seeds at proper storage keep for up to four years. It is best to sow in the fall, immediately after collecting the seeds. If you are going to sow yew in the spring, then you will have to keep its seeds in the refrigerator at a temperature of 3-5 ºC for at least six months. This measure will ensure higher germination. In March, the seeds are sown in a sterile substrate to a depth of 5 mm, covered with film and placed in a warm place. Seed germination lasts at least two months, and if you used unstratified seed for sowing, then you will have to wait from one to three years for germination. Two years after the emergence of seedlings, they are planted in a garden bed in a greenhouse, and after another two years, the seedlings are planted in a schoolhouse, where they will grow for another 3-4 years before being transplanted to a permanent place.
Yew on the site in winter
Yew in autumn
After the end of leaf fall, carry out preventive treatment of yew against diseases and pests with a fungicide solution, and cover the trunk circles of yew trees that have not reached three years of age with a layer of peat or dry leaves of decorative species 5-7 cm thick. To prevent the fragile branches of young yews from breaking under the weight of snow, pull them carefully towards the trunk and tie them into a bun.
In the photo: Yew branch
Wintering yew in the garden
If a snowless winter is predicted, the yew may freeze from severe frost, so it is wrapped in spunbond or lutrasil, but this must be done using a frame so that there is space between the plant and the covering material. It is better not to use burlap to create a shelter, since it can get wet during thaws and then freeze in the cold. It is also undesirable to wrap yew trees with polyethylene and roofing felt, which do not allow air to pass through to the branches. When the soil warms up in the spring, the shelter is removed, but until fresh growth appears on the yew, it must be protected from sunlight, which at this time of year poses a serious danger to coniferous plants: in sunny and windy weather, when the roots of the yew not yet able to absorb moisture, and the needles evaporate it intensively, yew trees can be easily damaged. Therefore, trees should be shaded from the bright sun.
Types and varieties of yew
We offer you a description of the most commonly cultivated yew species.
- a bushy recumbent tree no more than 2 m high, native to the forests of eastern North America. Its branches are ascending, the shoots are densely leafy and short. The needles of the Canadian yew are sickle-shaped and sharply pointed. The needles are yellowish-green above, light green below with even lighter stripes. The species is characterized by high winter hardiness: it can withstand frosts down to – 35 ºC, however, this quality appears in the plant only after it reaches three years of age. Of interest are the following forms:
- Aurea– a densely branching dwarf shrub up to 1 m high with small yellow needles;
- Pyramidalis- a low-growing form in which at a young age the crown has a pyramidal shape, and later becomes looser.
In the photo: Canadian yew (Taxus canadensis)
- a protected species that grows in the Far East, Korea, Japan and Manchuria. The tree can reach a height of 20 m, but on average grows up to 7 m. Sometimes the pointed yew has the form of a bush up to 1.5 m high. The crown of the plant is oval or irregular, the branches are located horizontally, young shoots and petioles have a yellowish tint, especially strong from the bottom side. The leaves of plants of this species are wide, sickle-shaped, with a protruding midrib. Above they are dark green to almost black, below the needles are of a lighter shade. Oval, pointed, slightly flattened seeds are surrounded by a pink or reddish fleshy amyelium up to half the length. The species has high winter hardiness, but in its young years it requires protection from the cold for the winter. The following decorative forms of pointed yew are popular:
- Rustique- a plant with a wide loose crown, long rising dark brown striped branches and slightly crescent-shaped, sparse, dark green above and yellowish below needles;
- Nana– low yew up to 1 m high with spread strong branches And irregular shape crown The needles are linear, very thick, dark green, up to 2.5 cm long;
- Minima- the shortest form of the species, reaching a height of no more than 30 cm. Its shoots are brown, the needles are dark green, oblong-lanceolate, shiny;
- Farmen – dwarf plant up to 2 m high with a crown diameter of up to 3.5 m. The bark is red-brown with light spots, the needles are pointed, dark green, located radially;
- Kapitata– has a feminine and male form. The crown of this yew, which may have one or several trunks, is strictly pin-shaped;
- Columnaris– wide-columnar form with dark needles;
- Dansa– female form with a very compressed wide crown: at the age of fifty the plant reaches a height of 120 cm with a crown diameter of 6 m. The needles are dark green;
- Expansa- a vase-shaped plant without a central trunk. By the age of twenty it reaches a width and height of about 3 m. A very popular plant in the USA.
In the photo: Pointed yew (Taxus cuspidata)
originates from western North America. This is a tree from 15 to 25 m high or a bush up to 5 m high with a wide pin-shaped crown and bark peeling off in pieces. Thin branches are spaced straight from the trunk, the branches hang slightly; yellow-green, sharply pointed needles up to 2 cm long and up to 2 mm wide, arranged in two rows. The two-tetrahedral, ovoid seeds, up to 5 mm long, are encased in bright red arils.
In the photo: Short-leaved yew (Taxus brevifolia = Taxus baccata var. brevifolia)
- a species common in Western Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus in mountain forests on sandy and even swampy soil. The height of the yew berry can reach from 17 to 27 m. It has a very dense spreading crown of an ovoid-cylindrical shape, sometimes multi-peaked. The ribbed trunk is covered with reddish-gray bark, which peels off in plates with age. The arrangement of the needles is spiral, on the side branches - two-row. The needles are flat, dark green and shiny above, matte below, yellow-green in color. The seeds are enclosed in bright red arils. This species has a large number of popular garden forms, for which a classification has been compiled. Most commonly grown garden forms type:
- Compacta– a dwarf form slightly taller than 1 m with a rounded crown of the same diameter and branches evenly spaced from the trunk. The needles are sickle-shaped, dark green and shiny above, slightly lighter below;
- Erecta– male shrub up to 8 m high with a wide crown and grey-green, short and thin needles;
- Fastiggiata– a female form up to 5 m high with a wide-columnar crown, drooping top and numerous sharp ascending branches. The needles are black-green, curved inward, arranged spirally on the shoots;
- Nissens Crown– a shrub up to 2.5 m high and a crown diameter of 6-8 m, but in middle lane This yew does not grow above the level of the snow cover. The bark is red-brown, thin, the needles are bright green, needle-shaped;
- Rependance- a creeping bush up to 50 cm high and up to 5 m wide with horizontally spaced branches pressed to the ground and sickle-shaped, shiny, dark green-bluish needles on the upper side. The underside of the needles is flat and lighter in color. The variety is winter hardy, so it is very popular;
- Summergold- a bush with a wide and flat crown, with branches rising obliquely, sickle-shaped needles up to 3 cm long and up to 3 mm wide with a wide yellow-golden edge.
In the photo: Yew berry (Taxus baccata)
occupies an intermediate position between pointed yew and yew berry. It is taller than the berry yew, its old branches are olive green, but in the sun they take on a reddish tint. The shoots are ascending, the needles are needle-shaped, arranged in two rows, with a pronounced central vein, up to 27 mm long and up to 3 mm wide. The species is drought-resistant and frost-resistant, easily propagated by seeds and has many decorative forms:
- Densiformis- a female plant up to one and a half meters high and a thick rounded crown up to 3 m in diameter. The needles are needle-shaped, thin, sharp, light green in color, up to 22 mm long and up to 3 mm wide;
- Grandifolia– a squat plant with large dark green needles up to 30 mm long and up to 3 mm wide;
- Straight Hedge- a female shrub up to 5 m high. The diameter of the dense, narrow-columnar crown reaches one and a half meters. The needles are curved, double-lined, thick, dark green;
- Ward- a female plant with a flat-round crown, reaching 2 m in height and 6 m in width. The needles are dark green, standing very densely;
- Sabian- a male, slow-growing shrub with a wide crown and a flat top, reaching a height of 1.8 m in 20 years and a width of 4 m.
In the photo: Medium yew (Taxus media)
grows along the banks of streams and rivers, mountain slopes, and gorges in the western part of North America. It can be a bush up to 5 m high or a tree reaching 25 m in height. It grows very slowly. Its crown is broadly pin-shaped, the bark comes off the trunk in plates, the branches are straight away from the trunk, the branches hang down slightly. The needles are needle-shaped, two-row, yellow-green, up to 20 mm long, up to 2 mm wide.
In the photo: short-leaved yew (Taxus brevifolia)
Other natural and hybrid forms of yew are also grown in cultivation.
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One of my favorites ornamental trees landscape designers is yew or yew berry. This coniferous plant has soft, flat needles, a multi-peaked crown and does not contain resin. Bright Feature This tree has red drupes that form instead of cones. Yew wood has long been highly valued and used to make durable furniture. It is believed to have bactericidal properties and protect against infections.
You can grow yew in two ways: using seeds and cuttings. Propagation by seeds is a very long process that requires special care and time. First, you will need to stratify the yew seeds, that is, keep them in a cold place for several months. After this, the plant will germinate in 3 months. Unstratified seeds can germinate for a long time - up to 3 years. The most reliable method of propagation is by cuttings. Cuttings 20 cm long are cut from 3-6 year old shoots in early autumn or mid-spring. The needles from the lower part are removed and treated with a growth stimulator.
Evergreen yew needles will decorate any garden with their decorative look and bright berries. But it should be remembered that the bark, needles, and seeds are poisonous. Therefore, you should be more careful if children are walking in the yard.
Yew berry is also called mahogany or greenberry, which is worth knowing when buying or searching for a seedling. Zelenitsa grows up to 27 m, having a trunk diameter of about 150 cm. Considering that the red tree grows slowly, the average height will be within 10-20 m.
Crohn's has cylindrical shape with smoothed edges. Very dense, the formation of several tiers is possible. The bark is smooth, colored reddish-gray.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that the trunk is covered with dormant buds. They are the ones who give rise to new shoots.
The needles are dense, dark green on the outside and light green on the inside.
The cones are solitary, covered with red skin, which grows into a fairly large ridge that has a sweet aftertaste. 
The seeds are quite hard and oval in shape. Pollination takes place in late April - early May.
Important! The entire plant is poisonous, except for the skin that covers the seed cones.
Selecting a site
Having understood what the yew berry is, having seen the photo and description of the plant, it is worth moving on to choosing a site for our long-lived
Lighting and location
Mahogany is shade-tolerant plant. Young trees are best planted under the crown big trees so that they receive diffused sunlight.
As for choosing a place, it should be special in all respects. Yew does not like being polluted, so planting should be carried out in a clean substrate, which is devoid of heavy metals and various construction or household waste. Also, lowlands are not suitable for the tree, since it does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil, so we choose a flat place or a small hill that will be protected from direct sunlight.
Did you know? The Fortingall yew is considered the oldest, under whose crown, according to legend, Pontius Pilate spent his childhood.
What kind of soil does yew like?
The ideal option would be fertile, well-drained soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. You may be misled by what various sources describe perfect option substrate in its own way. 
The fact is that different kinds and yew varieties require radically different soil, which is what determines their growing area. For example, the average yew loves slightly alkaline soil, and pointed yew - neutral.
It is also worth considering that if your site is dominated by soils that retain moisture, then you will have to worry about good
Planting seedlings
Let's start with the fact that if you plant several trees in a row or in the form of some kind of figure, then you need to leave about 2 meters of space between them, otherwise you will get “woven” dense crowns, which will be very difficult to form correctly, especially since such planting will greatly shade the area.
We start by preparing a hole or ditch (planting for The depth should be about 70 cm, diameter - 1 m. 
At the end, we water so that the soil is moist, but not waterlogged. 
Do not forget that the root collar should be at ground level. Under no circumstances should you cover it with soil or mulch.
Reproduction methods
Long and ineffective (by seeds)
Let us immediately answer the question of why this method is ineffective. The fact is that seeds require stratification- the influence of low temperatures, which imitate the natural conditions required for germination. In addition, the seed may not germinate in a year, but in 2-3 or 4 years, since germination persists for four years. 
It turns out that when sowing seeds, you will not know how long it will take for the seedlings to sprout, especially since they germinate unevenly.
Also, this method of propagation is used very rarely for the reason that yew berry is not bisexual, so pollination requires two trees of different sexes, which must be 25 years old or more.
If you are determined to grow yew from seeds, then let's start preparing seed material. The collection of seed cones is carried out in September - October, when the skin turns red. You should be careful, as many people like to eat the sweetish pulp along with the seeds, so collect the material on time, otherwise you will have to wait until next year. After harvesting, you need to soak the fruits to make it easier to remove the softened “packaging”, but do not keep the cones in water for a long time, otherwise they will ferment. 
After cleaning, the seeds are dried and placed in the refrigerator for stratification, which is carried out until next autumn. You can wait and sow in the spring (1.5 years of stratification), and then seedlings will appear within 2 months.
If you have chosen autumn sowing, then prepare or for sowing. For 1 sq. m, about 500 seeds are consumed, who sow randomly. There is no need to dig holes or make deep furrows; just sprinkle the seeds on the ground and cover them with mulch from dry pine litter (other mulch will not work).
It is worth remembering that it does not imply aging the seeds exclusively in a cold place. Initially, the temperature should be from 1 to 5 ° C, then the seeds are moved to a warm place (about +20 ° C), then again to the cold and, when the seeds begin to hatch, to a moderately warm place. 
Important! After germination, the seedlings are grown in a greenhouse for 2 years, after which they are moved to the garden bed.
Fast and productive (cuttings)
Let's start with the fact that depending on the location of the shoot taken for the cutting, the structure of the seedling will also differ in the future, therefore, when buying a seedling, you cannot know what will happen in the end. For example, if a horizontal lower shoot was taken, then you will get a spreading tree that will resemble a large one; if you take a shoot that was directed upward, then a slender tall tree will grow from it.
Cuttings are cut in September-October, immediately after the fruits have fully ripened. This way you will get good ripened material. The length of the cutting should be within 15-20 cm, and there should also be several shoots on the shoot. 
For cutting, it is better to use 3-5 year old branches, as they take root and grow faster. Annuals can also be used, but they are slower to take root.
Important! Old mother plants produce material that takes root very poorly without a growth stimulant.
After cutting, the needles are removed from the lower part, and all cuttings are placed in a root growth stimulator for several hours, after which they are planted in a mixture of peat and sand (2:1). Planting is carried out in small boxes, which are moved to a greenhouse or conservatory during the cold season.
It will take about ten days for the cuttings to take root. after which, in February or March, the plants are planted in single pots. Next, yew can be planted in open ground, waiting for warm weather.
It is worth noting that when grown in open ground the tree requires 6-7 years, but if the young trees spend the first two years in a greenhouse, then this period will be reduced to 5 years.
Yew can also be used to obtain new plants by bending the lower branches so that they touch the ground. After a few years, the cuttings will take root, after which they can be separated from mother plant and grow as full-fledged seedlings.
How to care for a plant
It's time to discuss plant care, consider the main points that affect the lifespan of the tree and its condition. notice, that comfortable conditions are required for wood not only for initial stage, but also throughout life, since deterioration of the condition leads to illness. 
Watering and soil care
Young trees have a small rhizome, so they cannot provide themselves with moisture. Prolonged drought can lead to death, so the soil is moistened as it dries, avoiding stagnation of water.
Mature trees that are 20-30 or more years old can do without watering, since their roots go deep, reaching the groundwater level, and a large area of the rhizome is able to absorb maximum moisture during rain.
However, it is worth remembering that if your region has very hot, dry summers, then Watering still needs to be done. The same applies to areas where there is a high layer of clay or minerals that prevent the tree from going deep into the roots.
Did you know? Yew alkaloids are used in traditional medicine for the manufacture of antitumor drugs.
Trimming
The dense crown of yew allows you to form almost any shape, even creating a shape in natural sizes.
Also yew is the best tree for formation, since its slow growth preserves the intended picture for several years, after which minor adjustments are required.
If you do not want to create a certain shape, then remove dry shoots annually so that the tree maintains its spectacular appearance.
Any pruning is best done in the spring so that the tree spends less strength to increase green mass. 
Transfer
Tree transplantation is carried out in April - May, depending on weather conditions. It should be warm and dry outside.
We prepare a hole 50-60 cm deep and slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the earthen ball on the roots. Next, prepare a soil mixture identical to that used when planting the seedling. At the bottom of the hole we place a 15 cm layer of fine crushed stone or expanded clay to ensure good drainage.
Next, pour our mixture over the drainage, place the rhizomes in the center so that the root collar is at ground level (you can add a few centimeters, which will go away when laying the mulch). Fill the hole, lightly compacting the soil. During the process of filling the hole, you need to pour water several times so that the soil is evenly moistened. Mulch the tree trunk circle with large wood shavings. Please note that if the new location is in direct sunlight, then you need to put up some kind of canopy until the tree takes root. Lack of shelter will lead to burns.
Wintering
Young trees are afraid of frost, so they need to be properly covered. The lower part of the trunk is covered with spruce branches, and the branches, which become brittle in the cold, are tied into a bundle and tied to a support so that the wind does not break them. It is worth considering that when using a non-woven cover for shoots, an air gap should be left between the wood and the material.
Important! In early spring, yew may suffer from sunburn, so it needs to be covered with craft paper or a canopy installed.
Diseases and pests
- Gnawing pests
In May, the needles begin to thin out, the buds and shoots are eaten away or beaten. A weakened tree suffers greatly, especially in dry weather. It can also be affected by other pests. The best way to combat the pest is to treat the planting before the buds open. Insecticides are applicable only if the yew is removed from fruit trees or Let's move on to which are most often caused by improper planting or lack of tree care. 
- Brown Schutte
- Fusarium
Did you know? Yew was exterminated because of its “eternal” wood, which has bactericidal properties. Wood is capable of purifying the air from pathogens, so it was widely used to build houses.
Use in landscape design
Yew is valuable tree not only because it is listed in the Red Book, but also because of its “capriciousness”. This tree It is impossible to grow in urban areas or near factories, so the presence of large stands of yew indicates that the air and soil in the area are not polluted.
Yew berry in landscape design is used as a background for rock gardens, creating dense hedges or green sculptures. Trees are used to create labyrinths or compositions.
Yew can also be used for single plantings on personal plot or as a dividing planting in the garden.
It is worth remembering that all parts of the plant are poisonous, so children or animals should not be allowed near the tree. Poisoning can be fatal.
This is basic information about what the yew berry tree is, what it is used for, what the rules of care and planting are. In conclusion, it is worth saying that by planting this plant, you do not allow another beautiful species of tree to disappear, which has been exterminated for centuries.
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