Taxus cuspidata
Common name: 
Japanese Yew
Pronunciation: 
TAKS-us cu-pi-DA-ta
Family: 
Taxaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Conifer
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Evergreen conifer, tree/shrub, to 65 ft (20 m) in its habitat, but more shurby in cultivation, branches ascending or horizontal.  Bark reddish-brown.  New growth reddish.  Leaves more or less 2-ranked, linear, abruptly pointed with a small sharp tip (mucronulate), 15-25 mm long, 3 mm wide, deep green above, 2 yellowish stomatal bands below, yellowish petiole.  The female cone develops into a soft, bright red berry-like structure (aril), 8–12 mm long and wide, open at the end and containing a single seed.
  • Sun or part shade.  Does well in cold winter areas such as the Midwest, but may develop severe winter burn in the colder regions.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 4  Native to Japan, Korea, Manchuria
  • Many selections, here are four:
    • 'Capitata Aurea'  -  small shrub, golden-yellow new growth
    • 'Cross Spreading'  -  spreading shrub, to 3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m) tall and 8-10 ft (2.4-3m) wide, highly resistant to winter burn
    • 'Dwarf Bright Gold'  -  spreading shrub, 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2) tall, 4-6 ft (1.8-1.8) wide, yellow foliage
    • Emerald Spreader™  -  wide-spreading, flat-topped, shrub, 30 inches (76 cm) high, 8-10 ft (2.5-3 m) wide in 20 years
  • Portland, Oregon: Hoyt Arboretum
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  • branches, leaves

    branches, leaves