Yew berry mix. Use of yew berry in medicine: beneficial properties, contraindications and side effects of the plant. Side effects and contraindications of yew berry
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Let's talk about a tree like yew. Why is it special yew wood, where does it grow and in what areas of life and human activity is it used?
What distinctive features does yew wood have and where can it be used?
Yew - origin
Yew berry or as it is also called European yew – mahogany, scientifically belonging to the yew family. This coniferous tree can most often be found in the forests of Central and Southern Europe. Yew can also be found on the territory of Ukraine; it grows in the wooded part of the Carpathians, as well as in the mountains of Crimea.
Yew berry grows well in soil with a high alkaline content, as well as in slightly acidic soils.
The maximum height of the tree reaches 28 meters. Yew is classified as a slow-growing tree species; the average lifespan of a tree is 2000 years. Although it is quite difficult to accurately determine this, since with age, when the growth of the tree stops, it is impossible to determine the exact age of the tree from the annual rings. The oldest yew tree is over 4000 years old. The age of this long-lived tree was determined using a special biochemical examination.
European yew is a sound tree species. When cut, the core of the tree is dark red. That is why this species is called mahogany.
Yew wood - features and scope of application
It has a very high density, which naturally affects the weight of the wood. Due to its density, such wood is difficult to impregnate with various protective compounds.
Yew has a strong and hard wood that is resistant to moisture. does not suffer from rotting, as it is not susceptible to infection by putrefactive fungi.
This type of wood dries well, but during drying it can... Yew wood is classified as highly drying. One of the characteristics of yew wood is its elasticity. Due to this property, yew was often used to make bows.
Easy to process, good for gluing. It is often used to produce various souvenirs.
It has pronounced antiseptic properties. Even a small amount of yew used to line a room inside can kill all microorganisms in the air. For this quality, yew wood was especially valued during times of epidemics.
But teak also contains dangerous substances. The bark and leaves contain substances that are dangerous to the health of humans and some animals and can even lead to death. In ancient times, serving wine in a goblet made of yew wood was considered a sophisticated method of poisoning.
Due to the fact that yew grows for a very long time, there is no mass use of its wood in the world. expensive, and very rarely found in mass sales. Most often, yew wood is used for manufacturing, which is then used for cladding rooms. Elite furniture and musical instruments are made from yew.
Yew is often used in park areas as a hedge, and living decorative labyrinths are also created from it.
Irina Zheleznyak, Staff correspondent for the online publication "AtmWood. Wood-Industrial Bulletin"
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From ancient times to the present day, yew berry has been the best material for topiary art. Yew trees tolerate pruning well, so they are often used to create borders, hedges and labyrinths.
Yews - coniferous trees and shrubs, relics of past geological eras. Among them there are: dioecious species(seed and anther cones are on different plants), and monoecious(on one). They are characterized by slow growth and longevity.
Yews are trees 10-20 m tall or shrubs, the bark is reddish-brown. The branches are arranged alternately on the trunk. The needles are flat, soft, 2-3 cm long, dark green, arranged spirally on vertical shoots, in two rows on horizontal shoots. Ripe seeds are surrounded by fleshy, juicy successor (aryllus), painted in red tones and having a goblet shape. There are varieties with bright yellow aryllus. The seeds are small, 5-8 mm long, 4-5 mm wide. They fall in autumn and are often spread by birds.
Our information
Berry yew, or European yew (Taxus baccata), is perhaps the most famous representative of the genus Yew (Taxus) from the Yew family (Tachaseae). In total, there are 8 species in the genus, one of which grows in Europe and North Africa, three in Asia, including Eastern Asia, and four in North America.
Yews are decorative at any time of the year. Especially they look nice in the fall, during the period of seed ripening. Then bright red beads of succulent seedlings flash on the branches, in which seeds are visible through the dark pupil. They look not only beautiful, but also appetizing, but you can’t eat them - all parts of the plant are poisonous(Arillus is believed to be harmless, but we would not recommend testing this). Only birds can eat yew “berries” without harm to themselves.
Yew berry (Taxus baccata "Adpressa")- at the dawn of mankind, it occupied a very large territory (Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor). It still grows in the same places, but only in the form of small relict pockets. The reasons for the reduction of the range lie, on the one hand, in the high qualities of the wood of this tree, and on the other, in its extremely slow growth.
Yew wood is durable and has bactericidal properties- not only resists rotting for an unusually long time, but also kills microorganisms in the surrounding air. Residents of houses with yew ceiling beams in the Middle Ages were better protected from infection than others. Subsequently, when there was no longer enough yew wood for construction, they began to make furniture from it, in particular beds. “Yew” beds were so valued that mentions of them are preserved in literary sources.
Yew berry (Taxus baccata "Lutea")
Yew was used to make religious objects. During the early Middle Ages in England, this tree also had strategic importance - the famous yew bows, taller than a man and taller, were made from it; bows made from other tree species were significantly inferior to them.
Variety of species
Pointed yew (T. cuspidata) occurs naturally in the Far East. This is a 20-meter tree, although in unfavorable conditions it can take the form of a creeping shrub not exceeding one and a half meters in height. More winter-hardy than berry yew (adult specimens tolerate frosts down to -40 ° C), and is not picky about soils. It tolerates air pollution better than other species of the genus. It has a large number of decorative forms, the most winter-hardy of which are “ Small"(Minima), reaching only 30 cm in height, and " Dwarf"(Nana) - up to 1 m, due to their small growth, they overwinter under the snow without loss.
Medium yew (T. x media, = T. baccata x T. cuspidata) is a natural hybrid of yew and pointed yew, it is frost-resistant and easily propagated by cuttings. The species has a large number of decorative forms.
Canadian yew (T. canadensis) occurs naturally in eastern North America. This is a low, shrub-like tree 1-2 m tall. Adult specimens tolerate frosts down to -35 °C, but young plants in central Russia require shelter for the winter.
In ornamental gardening, two are most often used: decorative forms: “Golden” (Aurea) and “Pyramidal” (Pyramidalis). The first was obtained in 1868, is distinguished by yellowish needles and small size (not exceeding 1 m in height), cultivated in rock gardens. The second has been known in cultivation since 1857 and is distinguished by its regular pyramidal crown shape, the diameter of which can reach 1.5 m with a plant height of about 1 m.
Short-leaved yew (T. brevifolia, = T. baccata var. brevifolia) Some experts consider it a variety of yew berry; it is less common in gardens. In nature, it grows on the Pacific coast of North America. This is a tree or shrub 5-20 m tall. Frost resistance is low; in gardens in Moscow and the Moscow region it winters in places protected from the wind.
Our information
Representatives of the genus Yew are very similar in appearance. Often, decorative forms of the same type, in the eyes of a non-specialist, differ more than different types. In ornamental gardening, the most commonly used yews are berry, pointed, Canadian and medium yews, as well as their forms.
Selecting the soil
Yews prefer nutritious, light, well-drained soil.
Optimal composition: turf soil (3 parts), peat (2 parts), sand (2 parts). Yew berry grows well in both alkaline and slightly acidic soils. The pointed yew does not tolerate acidic soils well, while the Canadian yew, on the contrary, loves slightly acidic soils, although it can grow in neutral ones.
The average yew is the most unpretentious, therefore its forms are most in demand by gardeners. However, you should know that this species prefers neutral and slightly alkaline soils. Yews grow poorly in waterlogged areas; heavy metal salts and general environmental pollution can harm them. This makes it impossible to use them for urban greening.
Landing
The recommended distance between specimens when planting is 0.5-2.5 m and depends on the size of the adult plant. The root collar should be at ground level. The depth of the planting hole is 60-70 cm.
To create a hedge, trenches are dug 50 cm deep (single-row planting) or 70 cm (double-row planting).
When planting, and also a year later, in the spring, add complex mineral fertilizer. In the first two years, young plants require watering (once a month, 10 liters per plant), sprinkling has a very positive effect (once every 2 weeks). The soil in the tree trunk circles is loosened in the first 2-3 years, removing weeds. It is recommended to mulch with wood chips or large sawdust in a layer of up to 10 cm.
To protect against spring burns, use a cover made of spruce branches or kraft paper.
Forming the crown
Yew tolerates well haircut and pruning when forming the crown, so it is often used to create hedges, garden labyrinths and topiary sculpture. If the task of crown formation is not pursued, only dry shoots are regularly removed.
We create comfortable conditions
Young yew trees can suffer from low temperatures in winter, so in late autumn they cover with dry peat layer 5-7 cm.
In early spring, yews, like all evergreen shrubs, are threatened danger of burns. To protect against them, a special shelter.
Another feature of young yew plantings is fragility of branches in winter. Large amounts of snow can severely damage plants, so they It is recommended to tie it in one bun. Mature yews are quite winter-hardy.
Features of reproduction
Yew trees multiply seeds and cuttings. The seeds ripen in the fall, they are either sown immediately or collected and stored in a cool room with a temperature of +5 ° C and low humidity.
Autumn sowing gives the best results; spring sowing requires seven-month stratification at a temperature of +3...+5 °C.
Even after this, seeds germinate only after 2 months (unstratified - after several years).
Decorative forms of yew trees are propagated vegetatively, most often by cuttings.
They are cut in the fall, in September-October, by which time the shoots have time to ripen.
The length of the cuttings is 15-20 cm, The presence of side shoots is allowed. It is recommended to use 3-5 year old branches for propagation; annual ones take root worse; should be taken with the heel(a piece of older wood separated below the knot). The needles are removed from the bottom of the cuttings and placed in a mixture of peat and sand (2:1). Autumn cuttings are planted in boxes, which are transferred to a greenhouse or room for the winter. You can also cut yew trees in the spring, in April-May.
The older the plant from which the cuttings were taken, the worse they take root. In this case, the success of reproduction will be ensured treatment with a growth stimulant (heteroauxin, etc.). Rooting takes about 3 months. For autumn cuttings, young plants are planted in the ground in May, for spring cuttings - in September.
Yew is a coniferous tree or shrub; it has a large number of varieties and varieties. This plant is easy to care for and long-lived. Gardeners love to use yew when creating hedges in their gardens and summer cottages, in parks and squares. It is widespread mainly on the European continent and is a long-lived record holder. A description and photo of yew berry will be presented in the article.
General information
Yew berry belongs to the coniferous species of trees of the yew family. Growing up, it reaches a height of 10 to 20 meters, sometimes up to 28 meters. Yew grows slowly, but has an impressive lifespan - some live up to one and a half or even four thousand years. One of the oldest trees in Europe is the Fortingall yew, growing in Scotland, which, according to scientists, is between two and five thousand years old.
The tree has a diameter of about one and a half meters and an ovoid-cylindrical dense crown. Very often, yew has multi-peaked crown types. Its bark is reddish-gray in color, with a lamellar or smooth texture. Yew buds are round or oval, light brown in color, with a small number of scales.
The photo of the berry yew shows that the tree trunk is covered with a large number of “sleeping” buds, which produce numerous side shoots. The leaves of the conifers are from 20 to 35 mm in length and 2-2.5 mm in width, they have a dark green color with a shiny tint.
Habitat
Yew berry is widespread in Central, Western and Southern Europe; in Northern Europe it reaches Norway, Sweden and the Åland Islands. It also grows in northern Iran, southwest Asia and northwest Africa. On the territory of Russia and in neighboring countries, yew forests are well preserved in the Carpathians and Crimean Mountains. It is also widespread in the western part of the North Caucasus (Tisosamshitovaya Grove, Caucasian Nature Reserve).
In Belarus there are local places where yew grows, especially in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. It is also widely represented in the Kaliningrad region of Russia and the western regions of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Yew most often grows in forests, undergrowth and woodland, on plains. In the mountains it can be found at an altitude of up to two thousand meters above sea level.
Fastigiata Robusta
Yew berry has several varieties. One of the most common is the yew Fastigiata Robusta, or European yew. In Latin, "fastigiata" means "conical", which alludes to the shape of the tree. Let's take a closer look at it.
Yew berry Fastigiata Robusta is an evergreen, large shrub that grows strictly vertically. It has a dense, slender crown shape that resembles a column. Robusta branches are not highly branched, densely spaced, with a large number of shoots of short length. Growing, it reaches a height of four to eight meters, and a width of 0.8 to 1.5 meters.
The structure of the needles is needle-shaped, the arrangement is radial, wide. It is slightly curved downward in shape and has a juicy green color. This type of yew prefers to grow in moist soils that are rich in minerals and many nutrients, as well as in calcareous soils. At the same time, it is not very whimsical and feels good in slightly acidic and moderately dry types of soil, but does not tolerate highly acidic ones.
Yew berry Fastigiata is resistant to pressure on the root system from other plants, is wind-resistant and takes root well in an urban environment. Fastigiata Robusta is a long-lived plant and can reach a thousand years of age. This type of yew is ideal for landscape design, creating various architectural forms and hedges.
Variety Summergold
Another common variety is Summergold, which translated into Russian sounds like “Golden Summer”. Yew berry Summergold is a coniferous, evergreen plant. It grows extremely slowly, like its counterparts of other varieties; ten years after its planting, this yew grows only up to one meter. Its color depends on the time of year; if in summer it has a golden-yellow hue, then the rest of the time it is greenish-brown.
An adult plant can withstand the cold quite calmly, but young plants need to be insulated during wintering. Summergold yew also survives windy weather well. It is resistant to heat and is not subject to burns from direct sunlight, but it is preferable to plant it in semi-shaded areas.
Yew berry of this variety is long-lived, especially when growing in favorable conditions. Its needles reach three centimeters in length and are located quite densely on shoots that have a crescent shape and wide edges.
The root system is very plastic; slightly moist soils, in which the nutrient content is significantly higher than in dry ones, are very suitable for it. However, very wet soil is not suitable for this yew, as this will lead to rotting of the roots, and calcareous soil is ideal for it.
Yew berry: planting and care
To plant a yew tree correctly, you first need to select the right soil. It grows and develops quickly in light, moist soil with rich nutrients and good drainage. Drainage is very easy to do yourself; for this you need to mix turf soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 3:2:2.
You should not plant yew in soil with high acidity; it will feel better in a slightly acidic or alkaline environment. Sandy soil and soil with a high content of heavy metal salts are also contraindicated for it, since the bush will quickly die in it.
Planting yew berry requires compliance with certain conditions. If you plan to plant several plants in one row at once, then it is necessary to maintain a distance between the bushes from 0.5 to 1 meter. If the size of the plot allows you to maintain a larger interval, then it is recommended to increase the distance to 2.5 meters.
Landing in the ground
When planting in open soil, you need to take into account a number of nuances. These include the following:
- Yew shrubs are planted in open ground in early or mid-spring. Just before planting, holes are dug with a depth of 60 to 70 cm. If you plan to create a hedge from bushes, then in this case a trench is dug no more than half a meter deep.
- It is recommended to add a special soil mixture, the so-called coniferous soil, to the prepared holes (trench). It is rich in soil fungi, which help the root system to better organize its relationship with the new soil and saturate the shrub with microelements and nitrogen.
- Cuttings of yew berry are placed in holes and sprinkled with earth; there is no need to deepen the root collar. After planting, the soil around the seedlings must be lightly tamped and watered generously with water at room temperature.
Care after landing. Watering
In the first year after planting the yew, the shrub needs to be watered quite often. This is due to the fact that at this time the root system is not yet well developed and is unable to consume nutrients and moisture from the soil in the required quantities.
In the following years, one watering per week will be sufficient, and in the event of a dry period, once every five days. It is especially necessary to pay attention to young plants. For one bush you need to use 10 liters of water.
In order for the evaporation of moisture from the soil surface to occur more slowly, it is necessary to mulch. To do this, the soil around the trunk must be sprinkled with bark or tree chips, and the layer thickness should be from five to seven centimeters. After mulching, the shrub is watered much less frequently.
Yew berry: care using fertilizers
After the first feeding of the yew during planting, the next time it needs to be fertilized after one year. In this case, the amount of nutritional mixture is reduced by 30%. Adult yew trees do not require fertilizer, since they have already formed and receive all the substances necessary for growth and development from the soil and moisture.
It is recommended to feed young shrubs with complex mineral fertilizers. After two years of age, feeding is completely stopped, since concentrated supplements will not only not bring benefit, but can also cause delays in plant growth.
After the first winter, it is recommended to fertilize young yew with humus or compost. Immediately before fertilizing, the soil must be dug up and then an additive must be added. Digging is done to ensure that the root system receives mineral and organic substances in full.
Shrub pruning
Grown yew trees are pruned. This is done in several cases. During sanitary pruning, damaged and dry branches are removed. During this operation, the plant is shortened sufficiently to prevent repeated drying. Even after severe pruning, the bush recovers very quickly, regardless of the age of the plant.
Decorative pruning, like sanitary pruning, is carried out in autumn, spring or summer. The branches are reduced by one third of their length. To form the crown of a bush, branches are used and pruning shears are used. A garden knife is used to trim young shoots, and a garden saw is used to remove thick branches. Formative pruning allows you to give the yew a beautiful look and create any shape. Entire sculptural compositions are often created from these shrubs.
Propagation by seeds
In order to grow yew from seeds, the fruits of the plant must be collected from an adult bush at the end of autumn, when they are already fully ripe. After this, they are filled with water at room temperature and allowed to settle for two to three hours. This is done so that the outer shell of the seeds can be freely separated. Planting material must be dried and stratified throughout the year.
Stratification is carried out as follows: yew seeds are placed in a container with pre-calcined and sifted sand, which must be moistened. Instead of sand, you can use a special coconut substrate, which is purchased at a gardening store. Then the container is placed in the refrigerator, the temperature in which does not exceed +4...+5 °C. After one year, stratified yew seeds are planted in a greenhouse, after which the planting site is mulched with pine needles. Provided that all procedures are carried out correctly, about 70% of the seedlings will sprout in the spring.
Propagation by cuttings
It is necessary to grow yew using cuttings from the beginning of April to the end of May or from the beginning of September to the third ten days of October. The branches of an adult healthy plant are cut off and spread into cuttings 15 to 20 cm long, with three to four shoots left on each cutting.
Containers for planting cuttings are filled with a mixture of peat, sand and crushed pine bark. The needles are removed from the base of the cuttings, then they are planted in prepared planting containers, which are then transferred to the greenhouse for wintering.
In order for the cuttings to be well accepted and begin their development, they must be treated with growth stimulants. After the cuttings have grown and gained strength, in the spring they can be planted in open ground, observing agrotechnical conditions. After five to seven years, full-fledged shrubs or trees will grow, but if the seedlings are kept in a greenhouse, the growth process may slow down, delaying it for two years.
Yew pests and ways to combat them
The main enemies of yew are the so-called sucking and pine-gnawing pests. The following insects are sucking:
- Scaleworms.
- Scale insects.
- False scale insects.
- Cicadas.
- Bedbugs.
- Gall mites.
These pests feed on the sap of the bush, which leads to oppression of the plant and very often to its death. Insects settle on the branches of the yew, sometimes in its tissues, and gradually destroy it.
Pine-eating pests include:
- Spruce budworm.
- Pine owl.
- Long-legged mosquito larvae.
- Snails.
They directly destroy the needles themselves, the budding buds and the root system.
Conclusion
From the above description of yew berry we can conclude that it is unpretentious in care and very convenient in landscape design. By following simple recommendations and advice from gardeners on planting and growing, you can end up with a beautiful tree or shrub. It will delight you with its beauty all year round for a very long time.
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Yew is a coniferous tree or shrub with slow growth and dense branching. The bark is thin, reddish-brown, peeling off in plates. Usually dioecious. The leaves are linear, flat, leathery, sitting on short petioles, the bend of which gives them a two-row arrangement on horizontal shoots; on those sticking up they are arranged spirally. Male cones are round, single, sitting in the axils of the leaves on the underside of the shoot. Female generative organs are located in the same way. The seed is surrounded by a fleshy, juicy red appendage - an aryllus (roof, acetum) in the form of a glass 5-8 mm in diameter. The seeds ripen this season.
All parts of the yew coniferous tree, except aryllus, are poisonous.
Wild forms of berry and pointed yews winter well in the middle zone. The latter is considered more winter-hardy than the berry variety, but there is no clear evidence of this. Varietal forms may have different winter hardiness, preferably low varieties that overwinter under snow.
The part above the snow can get sunburnt in the spring. They can also be damaged by severe, prolonged frosts during snowless winters. When growing tall varieties of yew with a pyramidal shape, it should be taken into account that the crown often becomes flattened (T. media ‘Hatfieldii’) and its decorative qualities are lost.
The plants are shade-tolerant, preferring fertile, well-cultivated garden soil and regular watering during drought.
Properties of yew and application
Yew has dark needles that do not change color in the winter and beautiful “fruits”. Pairs well with a variety of coniferous and hardwood species. Compact, densely branched varieties can easily be trimmed, which allows them to be given an even geometric shape. It is possible to use winter-hardy varieties for trimmed hedges.
Yew berry has always been valued as an ornamental and building material - over the centuries it was almost completely exterminated due to its “eternal” wood. One of the important properties of yew is its bactericidal effect. Houses in which yew was at least partially used protected their inhabitants from pathogenic infections
Types of yew and its photos
The genus of evergreen coniferous trees and shrubs of this family includes about eight species of yew. The most common of them are Canadian, pointed, medium and berry. Interspecific hybrids are known. In the middle zone, 4 species are grown (one of hybrid origin). The varieties of different types of yew are often difficult to distinguish.
All types of yew are widespread in the Northern Hemisphere; Three of them are home to the USA and neighboring regions of Canada. Yews are also found in Europe and East Asia.
Canadian yew
Canadian yew (Taxus canadensis) is a low shrub that grows in Moscow in 20 years to 1.5 m in height and 2.7 m in width.
The branches are usually spread out and raised. The leaves are short, 1.3-2 cm long and 1.5-2 mm wide, narrowed into a short pointed tip, with very short petioles, dark and olive on top. Arranged double-row in one plane.
Grows in the northern USA and Canada. Rarely grown, although cultivated since 1933.
It is considered the most winter-hardy. The varieties are few in number and rarely sold.
pointed yew
The yew (Taxus cuspidata) in good conditions can grow as a tree up to 20 m in height; in the middle zone, in 20 years it reaches approximately 3 m in height with a crown diameter of 2.6 m, and often grows as a bush. Skeletal branches are spread out or raised.
The leaves are 1.5-2 cm long and 2-3 mm wide, with a distinct midrib, dark green, sharply narrowed at the apex, arranged in two rows, forming a V-shaped “parting”. Found in the Far East, Japan, Korea, and China. In cultivation since 1854. A beautiful and fairly winter-hardy plant.
Varieties of pointed yew and their photos
About 20 varieties of pointed yew are known, some of which are listed for sale with us.
Variety of pointed yew ‘Capitata Aurea’. Has one or more trunks. The crown is pyramidal. The branches are obliquely ascending. Young leaves with a yellow border.
Pointed yew variety ‘Dwarf Bright Gold’. Semi-dwarf. Grows up to 1.2 m tall and grows slowly. The crown is dense, roundly flattened, irregular. The branches are directed upwards. The shoots are short and dense. Young leaves with a bright yellow border, growing shoots from a distance appear completely yellow.
Yew 'Monloo'(‘Emerald Spreader’) (1998, England). At 10 years of age, the height is 0.8 m, the width is 3 m. The crown is low, cushion-shaped, very compact, and even. The branches are horizontally spread and dense. The leaves are dark green, densely arranged in two rows, and on young shoots they evenly cover the entire upper surface.
'Nana'. Dwarf yew variety. It grows slowly. Dimensions at 30 years old: 1.5 m height and 2.6 m width. As can be seen in the photo, the yew variety “Nana” has a compact crown, irregular, cushion-shaped. The branches are short, directed obliquely upward. The leaves are shorter than those of the type, often protruding and vaguely biserial. Bears fruit. ‘Compacta’ – very similar (if not the same).
Yew variety ‘Rustique’(1950, Holland). Dwarf. Height 0.8 m, width 1.5 m. The crown is loose, vase-shaped, irregular. The branches are obliquely ascending. The needles are sparse, up to 3.5 cm long and 3 mm wide, slightly crescent-shaped. Often used for bonsai.
Variety ‘Stricta’. Female clone. The crown is columnar. Apparently, lower than a similar variety of yew berry.
Yew medium
Medium yew (Taxus x media, T. baccata x T. cuspidata) is a garden hybrid of berry and pointed yews, obtained around 1900 in the USA (T. D. Hatfield, Hunnewell Pinetum, Wellesley, Massachusetts). It has intermediate characteristics: bud scales are blunt, with a weak keel, leaves with a clear midrib, but located in two rows and often in the same plane. It is a collection of varieties with different winter hardiness, which form the basis of the modern assortment of yews.
Medium yew varieties: descriptions and photos
There are about 40 varieties of medium yew. On sale marked:
Medium yew variety ‘Hatfieldii’(until 1923, USA). Medium height. Height up to 4 m with a width of 3 m. The crown is wide-pyramidal, dense. The branches are vertical, the needles are radial and double-rowed.
Variety ‘Hicksii’(circa 1900, USA). Male and female clones. It grows up to 5 m tall with a width of 3 m, but in the middle zone it has little winter hardiness and freezes over. The crown is neat, columnar, expanding upward. The leaves on vertical shoots are arranged radially, on the lateral ones - in two rows, 2.5-3 cm long and 3 mm wide, dark.
Yew variety ‘Hillii’(1914, USA). Female clone. Reaches a height of 4 m with a width of about 3 m. The crown is oval in youth, broadly columnar with age. Skeletal branches are vertical, lateral branches are short. Female fruiting clone. Leaves are 2-2.2 cm long and 2.5 mm wide.
Variety ‘Sentinalis’(USA, 1947). Low shrub. Grows up to 3 m tall and about 0.7 m wide. The crown is narrow pyramidal. This is one of 30 pyramidal varieties obtained in the USA (John Vermeulen and Sons Nursery, Neshanic Station, New Jersey) in 1933-1952. They differ somewhat in the shape of the crown and the color of the needles. Among them are 'Flushing' (1952), 'Pilaris' (1947), 'Pyramidalis' (1946), 'Robusta' (1948), 'Stricta' (1946), 'Vermeulen' (1947), 'Viridis' (1948) .
Medium yew variety ‘Taunton’(‘Tauntonii’). Dwarf. Height is about 1 m with a width of 1.5 m. The crown is round, flattened, and quite dense. The branches are outstretched and raised. The needles are bright green, two-row. Bears fruit. It is considered very winter-hardy.
Description of yew berry and photo
Yew berry (Taxus baccata) is a tree that usually grows in cultivation as a shrub. It grows slowly, reaching a height of 2 m in 20 years. Skeletal branches are horizontal or obliquely ascending. The crown is ovoid, spreading, multivertex (in a tree) or cup-shaped (in shrubs).
The description of the berry yew is similar to that of the average yew. Young shoots are bare, ribbed, green.
Unlike other species, the kidney scales are blunt and without carinae. The leaves are straight or somewhat sickle-shaped, 2-3.5 cm long and 2-2.5 mm wide, with a distinct midrib and tucked edges, gradually tapering to a sharp apex, which may even have a spine. They stay on the branch for 5-6 years. It is found in western Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, and northern Africa in mixed and deciduous forests. In culture for a very long time.
Less winter-hardy than pointed yew or Canadian yew, it can freeze in severe winters. Winter hardiness of varieties may be unsatisfactory.
Varieties of yew berry tree: photos and descriptions
In total, there are at least 150 varieties of yew berry. They are cultivated in botanical gardens and arboretums, and varieties of yew berry are also found on sale.
Variety ‘Adpressa’(1838, England). Female clone. Shrub or small tree, reaching a maximum height of 3 m. At 12 years old, height is 0.5 m (Moscow). The crown is dense, rounded, flattened. The branches are raised. The branches are short and crowded. The needles are less than 1 cm long, 2-4 mm wide, dark. Winter hardiness is good.
Yew variety ‘Adpressa Aurea’(‘Adpressa Variegata’) (before 1885, England). Lower than 'Adpressa'. Female or male clone (according to various sources). Stated dimensions at 10 years: 60 cm height and 70 cm width. The crown is almost round, dense, and grows in width with age. The leaves are short, 0.6-1.2 cm long, with yellow edges when blooming. The color is brighter in the sun. Female fertile clone. Good haircut.
Yew variety ‘Amersfoort’(1939, Holland). Medium-sized shrub. It grows slowly, at 10 years the height is 0.6 m. The maximum height is 1.5 (2) m. The crown is oval, loose, irregular. Branching is irregular. The branches are strong, obliquely ascending and vertical. The leaves are dark, oval, up to 1 cm long and about 0.5 cm wide, rounded, arranged spirally. They are characteristically concave at the bottom, giving this variety a recognizable “curly” appearance. Possibly actually a variety of pointed yew.
Yew variety ‘Cristata’. Dwarf. The crown is dense and irregular in shape. The branches are directed chaotically and are somewhat curved. The needles are narrow, pointed, blue-green, very thick and also curved. It grows slowly.
Yew ‘Dovastoniana’(‘Pendula’) (circa 1777, England). A wide, cup-shaped shrub or tree. At 12 years old - 0.6 m tall, severely frostbitten (Moscow). Skeletal branches, horizontally spread with long drooping branches. The leaves are dark or glaucous, often two-rowed, splayed and overlapping, usually sickle-shaped. Very prolific in good conditions.
Yew variety ‘Dovastonii Aurea’(‘Dovastonii Aureovariegata) (before 1930, France). Grows slower than the green form. At 10 years old: 0.5 m height and 1.3 m width. Young leaves and shoots are yellowish, the color remains throughout the year. The same type ‘Summergold’ is a more modern variety.
Yew variety ‘Elegantissima’(‘Aurea Elegantissima’) (1891). Female clone. Large shrub. In Moscow conditions it freezes very much and by the age of 10 it reaches 0.5 m, with a stated height of 1 m and a width of 1.5 m. The crown is vertical. The branches are obliquely ascending, widely spread. Branches with hanging ends.
As can be seen in the photo, the yew tree of the Elegantissima variety is a plant with linear or crescent-shaped leaves, up to 3.5 cm long and 1.52 mm wide, gradually narrowing towards the apex, arranged in two rows or spirally, at the ends of the branches - randomly. Young leaves have a yellow edge, which later becomes lighter. The brightness of the color depends on the lighting. The forms found on sale under this name may differ in the size and shape of the leaves. Found in nature.
Yew berry variety ‘Erecta’(‘Pyramidalis’) (1838). Male clone. Large shrub. Normally the crown is broadly columnar. In the middle zone it freezes heavily and has a wide, flattened crown. The branching is dense, the branches are short, spread out or drooping, often extending almost at a right angle. The leaves are linear, overlapping, 1.8-2.2 cm long and 2 mm wide, usually arranged spirally, but a two-row arrangement is also common. They fall off relatively early - in the 3rd year.
FEATURES OF THE SPECIES
A small tree, mostly recumbent, sometimes with ascending branches and short, densely leafy young shoots. The shoots are tough, strong, and upright. Numerous roots are located shallowly and are characterized by the formation of mycorrhiza.
In cultivation since 1809. In Russia, this type of yew has been grown since 1947. The species tolerates shearing and heavy pruning well after the first or second year of growth. Recommended for use in alpine slides, hedges, single or group plantings.
The plant is poisonous.
Area Eastern part of North America.
Dimensions of an adult plant Shrub up to 1-2 m high. Form
Decorativeness crowns, bark, needles.
Needle shape The needles are 1-2.5 cm long and about 2 mm wide, green on both sides, flat, slightly curved with a sharp end. It is of unequal length: at the base of the plants the needles are longer than at the top.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in March.
Cones Red, berry-shaped.
Soil requirements Prefers drained fertile soils, acidic or slightly alkaline. Moisture-loving
Attitude to light Prefers partial shade
Frost resistance Frost-resistant in all gardening zones. Tolerates frosts down to - 35°C.
Shelter for the winter
Lifespan Lives more than 2,000 years.
The shrub form of this plant is most typical for the northwestern part of its range.
Pointed yew wood is highly valued as an ornamental material. As a relict species, the pointed yew is listed in the Red Book of Russia.
FEATURES OF THE SPECIES
Tree with a wide, ovoid-oval crown. At the northern border of the range it takes on a dwarf, creeping form. The bark is brownish-red, with yellowish-white spots and longitudinal cracks, the branches are brownish-green. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively. In cultivation since 1854. The species is especially popular as an ornamental plant in England, France and other European countries, as well as in the eastern states of the USA. In Russia it grows mainly in botanical gardens.
It grows slowly: by 200 years it reaches a height of only 10-12 m.
Area Naturally grows in the Primorsky Territory, Sakhalin, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan.
Dimensions of an adult plant Tree up to 20 m high.
Decorativeness The crown often has a “cascade” shape.
Needle shape The needles are 1.8-2.6 cm long, lighter than those of other types of yew. It is dull green on the upper side, light green below, with two brownish-yellow stripes. It persists for 4-5 years and turns slightly brown in the autumn.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in April-May.
Cones The seeds, ripening in August-September, are similar to pine nuts. They have an oval-ovoid shape and are 100% immersed in a juicy pale pink elliptical apex. The local population eats them. Abundant seed harvests occur once every 5-7 years.
Soil requirements Prefers loams and light soils.
Attitude to light Shade-tolerant.
Resistance to urban conditions Resistant to air pollution by gases and smoke.
Frost resistance The plant is intended for the southern gardening zone.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Lives more than 2000 years.
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Another advantage of the medium yew is the ease of propagation by cuttings. Even without treatment with stimulants, up to 40% of rooted cuttings can be obtained. Like all yews, this species is a poisonous plant.
FEATURES OF THE SPECIES
The species is distinguished by a round or columnar crown and red-brown bark. Its older branches are olive green, often reddish from above in the sun. Shoots rising upward. Drought resistant. It tolerates shearing and deep pruning well. Recommended for use in group and single plantings in shade and partial shade.
Growth is more powerful than other types of yew.
Area USA
Dimensions of an adult plant Shrub up to 5 m tall and crown diameter - 4-3 m.
Decorativeness Crown shape, bark, needles, fruits.
Needle shape The needles are large, up to 3 cm long and 0.2-0.3 cm wide, shiny, dark green above, lighter below, with a distinct central vein. The color of the needles does not change with the onset of autumn.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in April-May.
Cones Fruits every year. The fruits are berry-shaped, red, up to 1 cm long. The seeds ripen in August-September,
Soil requirements Prefers fresh, well-drained loamy soils. Like other types of yews, it does not tolerate stagnant water and acidic soils. The minimum groundwater level is 1.5 m.
Attitude to light Very shade tolerant.
Resistance to urban conditions Resistant to air pollution by gases and smoke.
Frost resistance Frost-resistant species (tolerates frosts down to -28°C)
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Lives about 2,000 years.
Yew berry (European) 14
The range of yew berry is much wider than other species (Europe, North-West Africa, temperate zones of Western Asia), but previously it was distributed over an even wider area. Because of its valuable wood, the plant was exterminated by predators for many years, which led to a narrowing of its range. Nowadays, yew berry in Russia is taken under state protection and is listed as a relict species in the Red Book of Russia.
The wood of this tree really has such extraordinary bactericidal properties that a house in which at least the ceiling beams are made of yew is reliably protected from pathogenic bacteria. This beneficial quality of the plant was especially valued in the era of mass epidemics.
Female and male organs (“flowers”) are formed in yew trees on different trees. Unlike other conifers, yew cones appear only on male trees. Female trees produce brown seeds, each surrounded by a bright red, fleshy, cup-shaped scale. This “cup” is the only part of the yew that is non-toxic to animals and humans. The seeds of the tree are spread by birds, who readily eat its juicy, harmless “berries.” Today, yew is used mainly as an ornamental plant for creating hedges and creating “sculptural” gardens from topiary trees.
The thick, massive trunk of the yew berry is covered with dark brown flaky bark. The age of trees with a trunk with a diameter of 3 m usually exceeds 2 thousand years.
FEATURES OF THE SPECIES
A small tree, mostly recumbent, sometimes with ascending branches and short, densely leafy young shoots. The shoots are tough, strong, and upright. Numerous roots covered with mycorrhiza are located shallowly. In cultivation since 1809. In Russia, this type of yew has been grown since 1947. The species tolerates shearing and heavy pruning well. Recommended for use in alpine slides, hedges, single or group plantings, and mixborders.
At the age of 15 years, the height of the bushes reaches about 1.3 m, the diameter of the crown is 150 cm.
The plant is poisonous.
Area Western Europe, Caucasus, Asia Minor.
Dimensions of an adult plant Tree 25-30 m high (depending on location).
Decorativeness Crown shape, bark, needles.
Needle shape The needles are dark green, flat, slightly crescent-shaped, up to 3.5 cm long, densely located on the shoots. Shiny above, matte below, with two light longitudinal stripes. Stores on branches for up to 10 years.
Time and form of flowering Flowering occurs in March-April.
Cones The first seed bearing occurs at the age of about 20 years (in plantations from 50 to 70 years). Ovules develop one at a time in the axils of the needles at the tops of shortened shoots. The seeds ripen in September. Each seed is enclosed in a red fleshy aneurysm with a sweetish taste.
Soil requirements Prefers calcareous, fresh, nutritious, moist, well-drained soils, but can also grow on clay soils.
Attitude to light Very shade tolerant; surpasses all tree species in this indicator.
Resistance to urban conditions Resistant to air pollution by gases and smoke.
Frost resistance The plant is intended for central Europe.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Lives up to 4000 years.