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| Taxus cuspidata
Japanese yewCulture: Like other yews, this species requires well drained soils and can tolerate full sun to heavy shade. If located near a building, make sure downspouts carry water far away from plants or they will die quickly if the soil is poorly drained. Plants can brown in winter if exposed to dry cold winds, especially when accompanied by sun. It is tolerant of heavy pruning and shearing. Yews are ideally hand-pruned to allow open pockets where sunlight can penetrate the canopy. Although tolerant of shearing, sheared plants have a dense outer covering of needles that shade out all inner growth. Sheared plants that are broken open by physical forces can be quite unsightly. Pruning plants back beyond the green growth will result in some branches dying back to the ground, especially if the plant was not vigorous prior to the pruning. Major heading back pruning is not recommended. Yews are usually transplanted balled and burlapped. Other than problems caused from soils being too wet, this species is typically trouble-free. Black vine weevil may require control. Usage: Although commonly relegated to hedging, the Japanese yew can make a good foundation plant, screen or even a specimen if left unsheared. The 'Capitata' form is most interesting when used as a medium-sized specimen tree or screen – again without shearing. When grown without shearing the plant develops a great depth of beautiful foliage. Some of the smaller selections can work well in the shrub border. To avoid annual shearing of too-large foundation plants select some of the more useful dwarf forms such as 'Densa', 'Emerald Spreader-TM, and 'Cross Spreading'. The commonly sold 'Nana' can reach heights of 10 feet or more. There are also some bright yellow foliaged selections such as 'Aurescens' and 'Bright Gold'. |
