Yew is a popular evergreen shrub that can be found in landscapes across the world. Yew offers many benefits to a landscape, including year-round beauty and privacy. In this article, we will discuss the advantages of using yew in a landscape and how to maintain it.

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1. Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata)

Japanese Yew is a popular yew species that is native to Japan. It is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 50 feet tall. The leaves of the Japanese Yew are dark green and have a soft texture. The small red berries of the Japanese Yew appear in the fall.

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Advantages: Japanese Yew is a versatile plant that can be used as a hedge or a specimen plant. It is also a popular plant for topiary. Japanese Yew offers year-round beauty with its dark green leaves, and the small red berries add interest in the fall.

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Maintenance: Japanese Yew prefers well-drained soil and needs to be watered regularly. It is also important to prune Japanese Yew in the early spring to remove any dead or damaged branches. Japanese Yew is generally resistant to pests and diseases.

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   2. English Yew (Taxus baccata)

English Yew is a popular yew species in Europe and North America. It is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 50 feet tall. The leaves of the English Yew are dark green and have a soft texture. The small red berries of the English Yew appear in the fall.

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Advantages: English Yew is a versatile plant that can be used as a hedge or a specimen plant. It is also a popular plant for topiary. English Yew offers year-round beauty with its dark green leaves, and the small red berries add interest in the fall.

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Maintenance: English Yew prefers well-drained soil and needs to be watered regularly. It is also important to prune English Yew in the early spring to remove any dead or damaged branches. English Yew is generally resistant to pests and diseases.

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   3. Hybrid Yew (Taxus x media)

Hybrid Yew is a cross between Japanese Yew and English Yew. It is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 20 feet tall. The leaves of Hybrid Yew are dark green and have a soft texture. The small red berries of the Hybrid Yew appear in the fall.

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Advantages: Hybrid Yew is a versatile plant that can be used as a hedge or a specimen plant. It is also a popular plant for topiary. Hybrid Yew offers year-round beauty with its dark green leaves, and the small red berries add interest in the fall.

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Maintenance: Hybrid Yew prefers well-drained soil and needs to be watered regularly. It is also important to prune Hybrid Yew in the early spring to remove any dead or damaged branches. Hybrid Yew is generally resistant to pests and diseases.

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Yew is a versatile plant that offers many advantages in a landscape. Each yew species has its own unique features, such as the small red berries of Japanese Yew, English Yew, and Hybrid Yew. When maintaining yew, it is important to water regularly, prune in the early spring, and monitor for pests and diseases. By incorporating different types of yew in a landscape, you can create a beautiful and interesting design that offers year-round beauty and benefits.

 

Hicks Yew (Taxus x media 'Hicksii') and Hills Yew (Taxus x media 'Hillii') are two popular cultivars of Hybrid Yew. While they share many similarities, there are some differences between the two that should be taken into consideration when deciding which to use in a landscape.

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Hicks Yew is a narrow, upright cultivar that grows to about 10-15 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. It has a dense and columnar form that makes it ideal for use as a hedge or a screen. Hicks Yew also has a high level of shade tolerance and can grow well in shaded areas, making it a popular choice for areas with limited sunlight.

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Hills Yew, on the other hand, is a broader cultivar that grows to about 10-12 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide. It has a dense and rounded form that makes it ideal for use as a foundation plant or a specimen plant. Hills Yew has a moderate level of shade tolerance and is best suited for areas with partial sun to full sun.

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When deciding which to use in a landscape, it is important to consider the specific needs of the planting location. If the area is shaded or requires a tall, narrow hedge, Hicks Yew may be the best choice. If the area has partial sun to full sun and requires a broader, more rounded form, Hills Yew may be the better choice.

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In addition, it is important to consider the maintenance requirements of each cultivar. Both Hicks Yew and Hills Yew require regular watering and pruning, but Hicks Yew may require more pruning to maintain its narrow form, while Hills Yew may require more pruning to maintain its rounded form.

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In conclusion, both Hicks Yew and Hills Yew are popular cultivars of Hybrid Yew that offer unique advantages in a landscape. When deciding which to use, it is important to consider the specific needs of the planting location and the maintenance requirements of each cultivar. With proper care and maintenance, both Hicks Yew and Hills Yew can provide year-round beauty and benefits in a landscape.