Table of Contents
Are Taxus and yew the same?
Yews are widely used in landscaping and ornamental horticulture. Over 400 cultivars of yews have been named, the vast majority of these being derived from Taxus baccata (European yew) or Taxus cuspidata (Japanese yew).
How fast does Taxus baccata grow?
English Yew hedging has an average growth rate of around 30 – 40cm per annum and can be easily maintained at a height of 1 – 5m, so it’s no wonder that this ever-popular hedging plant is great for bringing privacy to your outdoor area.
How fast do Irish yews grow?
Yew is a fairly fast growing plant when it is young. It will easily grow 30cms per year, more if it is in full sun all day and well cared for. Yew will begin to grow slowly when the growing tips of the central, leading stems are cut.

Where should I plant Taxus?
Grow yew in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to full shade. Water well as the plant establishes and then you shouldn’t need to water again – yews do best in slightly drier soils as they can succumb to root rot in damper conditions. Trim established hedges in summer.
Which of the following parts of Taxus have poisonous properties?
All parts of the plant except the bright red berry (aril) are poisonous; the seed within the berry is poisonous.

How tall do Taxus grow?
Yews mature to a height of 5 feet tall by 10 feet (1.5 by 3 m.) wide and almost exclusively pruned into the size desired for a particular location. Slow growing, they can be heavily sheared into a variety of shapes and are often used as a hedge.
Why are yew trees in graveyards?
The bark, the leaves and the seeds of yew trees are highly poisonous to cattle, horses, sheep and other domestic livestock as well as people, especially children; only the red fleshy seed covering is not poisonous, hence yew trees were planted in churchyards so that common folk did not graze their livestock on Church …
Can you burn yew wood?
Yew – (Scientific Name – Taxus Baccata) Slow burn and produces a great, intense heat. Burning yew also produces a pleasant scent, which makes it stand out a little more over other woods.