Taxus baccata, Common or European Yew

Common Name: Common or European Yew

In the UK, there are three native conifers: the Juniper, the Scots Pine and the Yew. The Yew is generally slow growing and can be of great age. Some Yews are probably thousands of years old. Estimating the age of a Yew can be difficult as they often develop hollow trunks, which makes dating by annual rings next to impossible. The trunks may also fill with aerial roots that grow down from the crown.

Yew is to be found naturally on many soil types, though it is perhaps more common on chalk in the south east and limestone in the north. It is sometimes found in the shade of oak woodlands. During the last 300 years, it has been widely planted in parks and gardens - as a form of hedging. Ancient or veteran trees are often associated with church yards, and have been connected with other sacred places.

The leaves of the Yew are long and narrow – technically described as lanceolate, that is like a spear or lance, tapering to a point at the tip. They vary between 1 and 4 centimetres in length, and are 2 to 3 millimetres wide. On many shoots they give the appearance of being arranged in two rows either sides of the stem, but on upright stems the spiral arrangement of the leaves is more obvious. On horizontal, ‘flattened’ stems the base of each leaf twists so that the leaves have the 'two row' appearance. The leaves are generally a dark green colour, sometimes a blue-green though the underside of the leaf is 'lighter' in colour.

The Yew tree is dioecious (that is, it has male and female forms). It can take many years for a female tree to bear flowers or fruit. Male flowers or rather cones shed their pollen in early spring. Female trees are most readily recognised when they bear their red fruits. Each cone is modified to contain a single seed / fruit. The outer part of the fruit is a red, fleshy cup or aril – it looks a bit like a berry at first sight, which attracts birds.

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