Propagating Taxus

Yew Facts

• One or more of three species of yew typically grace landscapes in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 7. English yew (Taxus baccata) grows only in these mild climates, but Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) and the media hybrid of English and Japanese yew (Taxus x media) both grow in USDA zones 4 through 7. Yews grow in shrub or tree form and adapt to life in full sun to partial shade. They tolerate most types of garden soil, provided it drains well, but extreme winter temperatures or summer heat may cause dieback. Like other evergreens, yews produce new growth shoots in early spring. These shoots provide softwood cuttings for new yews that will duplicate the parent exactly -- especially important when propagating hybrid yews. You can also take hardwood cuttings.

Softwood Cuttings

• Softwood cuttings come from the current year’s growth -- the last 4 to 6 inches of the growing tip. Stripping leaves from the bottom 2 to 3 inches and scarring the bottom of the branch enlarges the area where roots can sprout. Dip the wound on the snipped tip to rooting hormone powder to encourage root formation. Insert the branch end in a pot or tray containing moist, soilless potting mix or sand. Conserve moisture and keep soil moisture even by tenting containers in plastic bags.

Hardwood Cuttings

• Hardwood cuttings come from the previous year’s growth below the softwood. Start new yews from sections called heel and hammer. A heel cut results from tearing a side branch away from the main branch, taking a strip of the older branch with it. Cutting the branch above and below a side branch joint creates a neat mallet-shaped section of the older branch. Dip it in rooting hormone powder, which encourages rooting and helps prevent rot. Plant and bag hardwood cuttings as you would softwood cuttings.

Considerations

• Yew bark, leaves and seeds are poisonous, so think carefully about planting these shrubs if you have children or pets. Start yews from October through December when top grow won’t interfere with root growth. Bottom heat from a radiator cover or a few hours a day on a heating pad will help hasten root formation. Rooting should take from 10 to 14 weeks, after which a cool, sunny window makes a good winter home for the little yew. Plants root most readily between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Once yews have rooted, they need cooler temperatures -- down to 40 F is best -- to provide cooling for next year’s new growth. After one to three years in a sheltered spot, you can plant the yew in the garden.