Yew Shrubs for Shady Areas

Canadian Yew

• The ability of Canadian yew (Taxus canadensis) to tolerate the cold weather prevalent in the far northern areas of North America makes it a viable option for both shady and sunny spots. Canadian yew grows naturally from Canada through the Midwest. The shrub is between 3 and 6 feet high, with dark green needles. Canadian yew is not suitable for hot weather areas. The shrub is small enough to serve as ground cover.

English Yew

• In its natural form, English yew (Taxeus baccata) is a 30- to 50-foot high tree, but multiple cultivars of English yew are shrubs, suitable for planting in the shade. For example, the Amersfoort hybrid grows to 8 feet, working well in rock gardens and along foundations. English yew is not a cold-tolerant yew, with USDA zone 5 the coldest zone it survives in. English yew is an easy yew to nurture, as long as the site drains well.

Japanese Yew

• Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidate) grows native in Japan, but also in China and Korea. Some of its forms remain small, including Aurescens, which, at 3 feet high, earns its keep with its yellow needles that eventually change to green. Nana is a Japanese yew shrub hybrid that attains 10 feet in height, making it useful as a privacy screen or hedge. Japanese yew has no problem developing in the shade. The shrub either grows from a single trunk or possesses many smaller stems.

Anglojap Yew

• One of the premiere shrubs for shady sites is a cross between English yew and Japanese yew known as Anglojap yew (Taxus x media). This yew, developed early in the 20th century in Massachusetts, grows to different sizes depending upon the cultivar, but many are shrubs. Hybrids such as Bean Pole grow to 8 feet high but just 8 inches wide, while Densiformis reaches 4 feet tall, but expands to be 8 feet wide. Anglojap yew withstands pollution common in urban locations, but requires protection from biting winter winds to avoid discoloration of its needles.