Common yew

Short Description

The common yew is an evergreen tree or shrub that can reach heights of up to 15 metres.

The needles are soft and flexible. They have a glossy dark green upper side and a distinctly lighter underside.

The trunk is usually richly branched. The crown is usually irregularly spherical. The bark is grey to reddish brown and flakes off in longitudinal scales.

It is usually dioecious, i.e. the male and female flowers are on different trees. The male flowers are numerous in yellowish, spherical clusters. The female flowers are greenish and inconspicuous.

The fruit is bright red. The seeds are brown and ovoid.

In the city

In the city, the yew is often planted as a tree or as a hedge in gardens and parks. It tolerates many different site conditions from moist to very dry and acidic to alkaline soils. Only the young plant is dependent on a shady growing site.