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Home > Yew > Japanese Plum Yew

Japanese Plum Yew

The Japanese plum yew is a deer-resistant small tree belonging to the plum-yew family. Its scientific name is in honor of the Earl of Harrington, who was the first plant this tree in a Europe.

Japanese Plum Yew

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Plantae
Division Pinophyta
Class Pinopsida
Order Pinales
Family Cephalotaxaceae
Genus Cephalotaxus
Scientific Name Cephalotaxus harringtonii

Images of Japanese Plum Yew

Japanese Plum Yew Dwarf

Prostrate Japanese Plum Yew

Japanese Plum Yew Duke Gardens

Quick Information

Other Names Korean plum yew, cowtail pine, Harrington’s cephalotaxus, Assam plum yew, plum fruit yew, spreading plum yew
Type Evergreen shrub
Identification

Size: 5-10 ft (1.5-3 m) tall and 5-14 ft (1.5-4.3 m) wide

Trunk Diameter: 4 ft (1.2 m)

Needles (Leaves): Linear, 2 in (5 cm) long, 0.12 in (0.30 cm) wide, leathery, dark-green above and lighter green below, arranged on either side of the shoot

Bark: Grey-colored

Flowers: Males are pale cream-colored, becoming brown as they age, globular-shaped; females are spherical, can be found at the base of shoots

Cones: Smooth, pale green with darker green stripes, ovoid-shaped, 1 inch long, 0.6 inch wide

Distribution They are native to Japan and Korea
Habitat Woodlands of deciduous forests at heights of 1,970-3,280 ft (600-1,000 m)
Hardiness Zones 6-9
Growth Rate Slow
Lifespan 50-150 years
Growing Conditions

Summer: Part shade during hot summers, full sun during cooler ones

Winter: First year of winter should be in cover

Water: Moderate

Light Requirement: Full sun to full shade

Soil: Sand, loam, clay

Diseases & Pests None
Reproduction System Dioecious
Propagation By cuttings and seeds
Seedling Development Germination may take more than a year and half
Cutivars
  • Fastigiata (Upright)
  • Prostrata
  • Nana
  • Hedgehog
  • Drupacea
  • Fritz Huber
  • Korean Gold
  • Gold splash
  • Spreading
Uses Ornamental; a substance known as omacetaxine, extracted from the leaves is used in treatment of leukemia
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern

Picture of Japanese Plum Yew

Spreading Japanese Plum Yew

Upright Japanese Plum Yew

Japanese Plum Yew Bonsai

Interesting Facts

  • Oil derived from the fruits of the Japanese plum yew is edible, as are the seeds.
  • This plant is sometimes confused with the similar sounding Japanese yew.

References:

  1. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c769
  2. https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/cephalotaxus-harringtonia
  3. https://landscapeplants.aub.edu.lb/Plants/GetPDF/91b93daa-46d8-4654-a25c-ab490dcf7b10
  4. http://rslandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2010/03/cephalotaxus-plum-yew.html
  5. https://www.thespruce.com/japanese-plum-yew-growing-profile-3269170
  6. https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Cephalotaxus+harringtonia
  7. https://www.monrovia.com/spreading-japanese-plum-yew.html

Published on June 5th 2018 by Sudipto Chakrabarti under Yew.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

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