English Yew 'David'

5a–7bHardiness zone

SpringSummerFallWinter

Background

Taxus baccata 'David' is a narrowly columnar English yew with bright golden-yellow new growth that matures to golden-green. It delivers reliable year-round vertical structure in formal borders, foundation plantings, and mixed conifer collections. It is a male clone and produces no berries.

Growth is very slow - typically 3–6 inches per year - ultimately reaching 10 or more feet over several decades. The cultivar tolerates a wide range from full sun to heavy shade, but demands excellent drainage; waterlogged soil is the primary cause of decline. Foliage color is most vivid in full sun and trends toward yellow-green in shade. Shelter from desiccating winter winds improves performance at the colder end of its range, and a shallow layer of wood chip mulch around the root zone helps moderate winter soil temperature.

The foliage of Taxus baccata is the commercial source of 10-deacetylbaccatin III, the taxane compound used for semi-synthetic production of paclitaxel (Taxol), a chemotherapy agent used against several cancers. All parts of the plant except the red aril surrounding the seed contain taxine alkaloids toxic to humans, horses, and cattle - a relevant consideration in gardens used by children or livestock.

Good companions

Smooth Hydrangea Male Fern Bigroot Geranium

In these starter beds

Yew & Fern Shade Pocket

Care guide

SunFull sun to full shade

WaterModerate

SoilLoam or clay, moist but well-drained

Spacing2–3 ft

Height6–10 ft

Zone5a – 7b

Frost hardy

Seasonal tasks

spring

watchCheck soil drainage after snowmelt and spring rains. Water pooling at the base for more than a few hours signals a drainage problem that must be corrected - yews decline rapidly in saturated soil.

cutRemove winter-damaged shoots in mid-spring once new growth makes the extent of dieback clearly visible. Cut back to living wood just above a healthy lateral.

sowPlant container-grown stock in early spring once the ground is workable. Set the root flare at or just above soil level; do not bury the crown. Avoid low-lying spots where water collects.

summer

cutTrim lightly in midsummer to sharpen the columnar outline. Avoid cutting back into bare old wood without leaving at least a few live needles on the branch - yew regenerates well but needs green tissue to regrow.

watchIn wet summers, inspect shoot tips for Phomopsis blight: browning tips with dieback that advances toward the stem. Remove and dispose of affected shoots; do not compost them.

fall

sowFall is an equally valid planting window. Apply 2–3 inches of wood chip mulch out to the drip line, keeping mulch several inches clear of the trunk, to carry roots through their first winter.

watchInspect stems and undersides of foliage in late fall for scale insects or taxus mealybug. Treat with horticultural oil before temperatures fall below 40°F.

Common problems

Phytophthora Root Rot

Symptoms

Wilting despite moist soil, yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and dark, decayed roots and crown tissue. Vines may collapse during hot weather.

Treatment

Plant in well-draining soil and avoid waterlogging. Remove and destroy affected vines. Improve drainage with raised beds or amended soil and avoid overwatering.

Armillaria Root Rot

Symptoms

Thinning, yellowing canopy with progressive dieback; white, fan-shaped mycelial mats visible beneath bark at or just below the soil line; honey-colored mushroom clusters appearing at the trunk base or on surface roots in autumn.

Treatment

No chemical cure exists. Improve drainage and avoid any injury to roots or trunk. Remove severely infected trees along with as much root material as possible. Do not replant susceptible species in the same spot.

Phomopsis Blight

Symptoms

Irregular brown lesions on leaves, stems, and fruit. Stem lesions can girdle the plant, causing wilting above the infection point. Fruit develops sunken, dark, water-soaked spots that expand and rot rapidly in warm, wet conditions. Small black fruiting bodies may be visible inside older lesions.

Treatment

Remove and destroy all infected tissue. Avoid overhead irrigation and improve air circulation through adequate spacing. Apply copper-based fungicide at first symptoms and repeat every 7–10 days during wet weather. Rotate out of the nightshade family for at least 3 years and start with certified disease-free transplants.