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Home > Yew > Pacific Yew

Pacific Yew

The Pacific Yew is an evergreen coniferous tree which comes in small to medium sizes appearing somewhat like a large shrub. It is a native North American tree mainly found in moist, shady regions, and in the underlying layers of vegetation in dense forests.

Pacific Yew

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Pinophyta
Class Pinopsida
Order Pinales
Family Taxacae
Genus Taxus
Scientific name Taxus brevifolia

Western Yew

Taxus Brevifolia

Pacific Yew Tree

Pacific Yew Bark

Quick Information

Other Names Western yew, Yew brush, Yew, Mountain Mahogany
Identification Height: 30-50 ft (10-15 m) tall
Trunk Diameter: 50 cm
Leaves (needles): Spirally arranged, 1 to 3 cm long, 2 to 3 mm broad
Seed cones: Single seed 4-7 mm long, develops into berry called aril, 8-15 mm long, wide with an open end. They mature 6-9 months post pollination
Male Cones: Spherical, 3-6 mm diameter
Bark: Scale-like, papery thin, brown to purplish in color
Tree type Evergreen
Fruits Toxic, contain Taxine alkaloids(A & B); fatally poisonous for humans, horses, cattle and pigs
Distribution/Range Pacific Northwest of North America, British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Southeast Alaska, central California, and Idaho
Hardiness Zone 5-9
Growth rate Slow
Lifespan Long-lived (300 years)
Growing Conditions Summer conditions: Warm, dry summer
Winter conditions: Mild, wet winters with tolerance to frost
Rainfall: Can survive flooding and brief deluge
Sunlight: Tolerant to direct sunlight
Soil: Grows best on rocky, gravelly, moist, rich, deep soil including Ultisols, Alfisols, and Inceptisols
Diseases and Pests Inclination to rot from within, creating hollow forms; no leaf disease, localized damage caused by blight
Flowering/Fruiting May or June
Breeding system Dioecious
Seed development Germinate slowly; 30°C day temperature and 20°C night temperature is desirable
Seed Production Ripening of fruit takes place from August to October in the same year of flowering
Wildlife Value Offer food and cover to many wild species such as deer, elk, and moose
Cultivars/Varieties   cv erecta, cv nana, cv nutallii; Taxus brevifolia var. reptaneta, Taxus brevifolia var. polychaeta
Uses Wood is used in lumber industry and for manufacturing various items like canoe paddles, gunstocks, carved figurines, furniture, musical instruments,  bow staves, etc.
IUCN Conservation Status Near Threatened

Pacific Yew Needles

Pacific Yew Leaf

Interesting facts

  • Pacific yew has great medical importance since it contains a drug Taxol, which is being used for Cancer medicine Research.
  • It is an attractive ornamental tree and is frequently used as a hedge plant.
  • Pacific yew wood was used by the Native Americans to make warring, fishing, and hunting tools.

Pacific Yew Fruit

Pacific Yew Tree Images

References:

  1. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/siuslaw/learning/nature-science/?cid=fsm9_019120
  2. https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=PGTXA01010
  3. https://www.conifers.org/ta/Taxus_brevifolia.php
  4. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Taxus+brevifolia
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxus_brevifolia

Published on December 21st 2016 by Bony Palchaudhuri under Yew.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

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