Taxus baccata - 30cm-50cm

Commonly known as Native Irish Yew, English Yew or even European Yew is an iconic, slow growing native evergreen conifer revered across Ireland and Europe for its incredible longevity, dense structure and rich cultural heritage. Capable of living for thousands of years, this resilient plant serves as the ultimate premium option for formal hedging, topiary, and architectural screening. Its luxurious, needle-like deep green foliage acts as a striking, textured backdrop that enhances nearby garden colors throughout all four seasons.

Key Features

• All-Season Foliage: Features dark, flat, linear needles tightly arranged in two rows along the twigs, offering maximum year-round privacy and wind protection. 

• Vibrant Autumn Fruit: As a dioecious species, female trees produce striking, cup-like bright red fleshy berries from late summer through winter. 

• Exceptional Pruning Tolerance: Unlike most conifers, it responds beautifully to hard clipping and can regenerate seamlessly from old wood, making it ideal for immaculate geometric hedges and complex topiary. 

• Renowned Longevity: One of Europe's longest-living tree species, it naturally resists decay and regenerates via internal root-layering.

Growing Conditions

• Sunlight Versatility: Thrives across a remarkable light spectrum, maintaining full foliage density from direct, blazing sun to deep, north-facing shade.

• Soil Requirements: Extremely adaptable to chalky, alkaline, clay, sandy, and loam soils. However, it demands excellent drainage and is highly intolerant of waterlogged areas, which can lead to fatal root rot.

• Hardiness & Aspect: Exceptionally hardy—tolerating freezing winter temperatures below -20°C and capable of handling both sheltered and highly exposed sites

Historical Significance:

Taxus baccata has a rich cultural and historical significance. It has been associated with various myths, folklore, and religious traditions. In ancient times, the wood of the yew tree was highly valued for making longbows. It was also planted in churchyards and cemeteries, symbolizing longevity and immortality.

Wildlife Value

• Crucial Bird Nutrition: The sweet, fleshy red berries provide a vital winter food source for native birds like thrushes, blackbirds, fieldfares, and waxwings. The birds digest the flesh and safely disperse the seed.

• Nesting & Shelter: The compact, interlocking branch network serves as a secure, weather-proof haven for nesting birds like wrens and robins, as well as essential winter cover for small mammals.

• Insect Support: The foliage acts as a specific host food plant for unique invertebrates, including the caterpillars of the satin beauty moth