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
- A bonsai subject
- Portland, Oregon: Hoyt Arboretum