Description
Characteristic Features of Yew
Taxus (Yew) is a genus of evergreen trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. These long-lived plants occur mostly in the Northern Hemisphere, though now they are rarely found in the wild. Yew has very valuable timber, and the mass felling of these trees quickly made them endangered.
According to most linguists, the Russian word "Tis" and the Latin "taxus" derive from the Indo-European root "teg / tog" (dense, thick), i.e the name of the plant reflects its strength and stateliness.
Yew has deep roots that help to get moisture from the depths of the soil, a ribbed stem covered with red or brown scaly bark, and a dense spreading crown. The shoots are directed both horizontally and vertically. The branches are multiciptal. On the surface of the flat leaves (needles), a vein is clearly visible, and on the underside there are two yellow-green strips. The berry-like, typically red aril contains small oval seeds that mature in the autumn. Yew timber has antibacterial properties, which wins the hearts of those gardeners who want to make an attractive ornamental planting and at the same time clean the air from harmful bacteria. Interestingly, during severe epidemics, people used to build houses and make furniture from Yew to protect themselves from disease. Please remember to be careful with this tree, because all its parts, except for the aril without seeds, are toxic. The largest alkaloid content is contained in the needles. In ancient times, if someone wanted to poison a person, they gave him wine to drink from a cup made of yew.
The genus Taxus is represented by no more than 8 species that differ mainly in the locus, the colour of needles, and the tree height. Some species growing in the Caucasus can reach a height of 30 metres, while European species grow on average only to 10 metres tall.
Canada Yew (Taxus canadensis) is a shrub up to 2 metres tall with short shoots and curved pointed yellow-green needles. In the gardens, low-growing varieties are common in cultivation: 'Aurea', a shrub up to 1 meter tall, with thick branches and small yellow needles; 'Pyramidalis', a shrub with a pyramidal crown and needles of different length, shorter on the top and longer in the bottom of the plant.
Rigid Branch Yew or Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata) can be a shrub no more than 1.5 metres tall or a tree up to 15 metres tall. The leaves on the top are dark green and lighter on the bottom; the bark is pink. There are many ornamental forms: 'Columnaris' with a columnar crown; 'Densa' growing to about 1 metre tall, with a broad crown and short shoots; 'Expansa' with a vase-shaped crown; 'Minima', a shrub up to 30 centimetres tall, with branching stems and shiny green needles; and 'Nana' that grows to a height of 1 metres tall and has wide branches and pointed needles about 2 centimetres long.
Pacific Yew or Western Yew (Tahus brevifolia) grows to about 10 metres tall, with a topshaped crown, drooping branches, and double-row pointed yellow-green needles.
European Yew (Tahus baccata) is a very popular species in our gardens and parks, with numerous ornamental varieties featuring a drooping or spherical crown, an interesting golden colour of the needles etc. However, European Yew is not winter hardy, unlike the above species, and requires winter sheltering and extra care.
Taxus x media is a widespread species combining the features of European Yew and Japanese Yew. The branches of this tree are olive-green.
Yew tolerates pruning (the desired crown shape is maintained for a long time) and transplanting (even in mature plants) very well, so Yew is ideal for garden fences, edges, and topiary. Perfect companion plants are roses, hamamelis, magnolia, and astilba.
The Secrets to Successfully Growing Yew
Yew thrives in sunny locations but it will grow in the shade too. It can even grow in locations where other conifers cannot survive. Yew prefers moist air and calcareous soil, tolerates air pollution, and does not require special care. Mature trees are very winter-hardy and can withstand temperatures down to -40 ° C. Very young Yew trees need to be winter sheltered with spruce branches. Remove the sheltering only in April, as it also helps to protect the young needles from burns of the early spring sun. Ensure good drainage with a layer of brick shards 20 centimetres thick, as this plant does not like waterlogged soil.
Yews grow slowly, so they are often grown from seedlings. It is essential to choose a location protected from the wind and direct sunlight. Place a layer of drainage material at the bottom of the planting hole, make in compound fertilizer, and plant the tree 60-70 centimetres deep so that the root collar is at ground level. The most suitable soil mix is loam, peat, and sand. In group plantings, space the plants 0.5-3 metres apart, depending on the species. Water young trees once a month during their first three years (10 litres of water per plant), weed, loosen the soil around the tree trunks, mist twice a month with water, and mulch with peat or sawdust (a layer of about 10 centimetres) in the autumn.
Yews are propagated by seed and cuttings.
Sow the seeds in the greenhouse in late autumn or in the spring after pre-soaking and stratification for 6-7 months at 3-5 ° C. However, the seeds are difficult to germinate and germination often occurs only 2-4 years later.
To propagate by cuttings, cut four- or five-year-old shoots up to 20 centimetres long, preferably with a "heel" for better rooting, in September or October. Remove the needles from the lower part and plant the cuttings in boxes with a mix of sand and peat. In May, transplant to open ground. Varietal Yews are frequently propagated by cuttings and grafting in February and March.
Potential Problems
The yew gall midge and yew scales may affect you. The pests and their larvae cause needles to turn brown and dry off. Remove affected shoots and spray the trees with Malathion.
The pine moth and European spruce bud moth can also affect yew trees. Treat the affected parts with soapy water or chemicals.
Failure to comply with the care requirements sometimes causes fusarium wilt, brown schutte, necrosis, superficial necrosis, and stem rot. These fungal diseases can be avoided with good drainage. Preventive spraying with copper-containing chemicals will be very helpful.