Taxus baccata 'Elegantissima' (f/v)

RHS Plant Profile

yew 'Elegantissima'

Shrubs

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A slow-growing, upright, evergreen shrub with an dwarf habit reaching 1.5m in height and about 0.5m wide. It has slightly variegated yellow leaves and would be useful in a conifer bed or rockery. Tolerant of pollution

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Taxaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Taxus are small evergreen trees or large shrubs of rounded habit, with dense, linear leaves, insignificant flowers and, on female plants, conspicuous fleshy red arils surrounding the solitary seeds
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well drained soil. Both male and female plants available - females will have red berries, males masses of pale yellow flowers making clouds of pollen. For more information see tree cultivation.

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1 if grown as a tree. As a hedge, Yew is pruned in late summer or more often for a very formal appearance. Yew is also suitable for topiary.

Pests

May be susceptible to tortrix moth, vine weevil, gall mites and scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to phytophthora root diseases