Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum

Scientific name: Taxus baccata

Common name: English yew

Native: No

Native range: Native to Europe, but is frequently planted in North America [1,3,4,5,6].

Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for T. baccata.

USDA Zones: 5B-7 [1]

Maximum age: Renowned for its longevity, the English yew may survive for longer than 1,000, and some specimens have been rumored to be over 5,000 years old [3,4,5].

Ecology: Its dense growth is attractive to birds who use it for cover [1,3,4].

Ethnobotany: Due to its dense growth form, it is primarily used to make hedges and screens where it is planted in North America [1]. In its native range and in Britain particularly, however, it has a long history as a symbol of everlasting life due to its unusually long lifespan [3,5]. Although extremely toxic, the Haudenosaunee use it for a number of medical applications, including as an abortifacient [2].