Taxus baccata Seeds | English Yew
LATIN NAME: Taxus baccata
COMMON NAME: English Yew
Plant Profile
Among the ornamental and useful plants raised from seed, English Yew (Taxus baccata) stands out as a tree in the yew family. Tree keeps deep-green form through year, and it takes close clipping well. It stands cold, shade, and city air well. It likes sun or shade, and moist, well-drained soil. In combination, these characteristics make a persuasive case for growing it.
Science & Biotechnology
The species features in the wider study of the yew family, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. In the yew family, the English yew has a long, honoured record in studies of long-lived evergreens, and species appears in research on bark chemistry and shade, clipping tolerance. It retains a following among breeders and collectors, which keeps seed stocks in circulation.
Uses & Benefits
English Yew brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. In formal garden, the English yew arils branches with red in the autumn. Deep-green form makes neat hedges and topiary, red arils feed birds, and wood has served longbows and fine wares for generations. It stands cold, shade and city air and grows in moist, well-drained ground. In later seasons it demands little more than an appreciative eye.
Yews gave oncology paclitaxel, Taxol, from their bark, a landmark anticancer drug; every part of the tree is dangerously toxic except the red aril’s flesh, so yews are magnificent garden conifers to admire, never to sample.
Growing from Seed
English Yew is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Surface-sow onto a light, well-drained compost, dust over a thin covering, and keep evenly moist and sunny until the seedlings show. The seed responds well to a cool, moist stratification period, which helps it break dormancy evenly. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
The medicinal tradition behind this species, outlined above, is a large part of its interest. A few weeks of cold, moist stratification before sowing mirrors its natural cycle.
Related Reading
More species in the same orbit as English Yew: