Cephalotaxus lanceolata aka Gongshan Plum Yew

Cephalotaxus lanceolata is a shrub known as Yunnan plum yew. It belongs to the Taxaceae family and is evergreen. Its leaves stay on the plant all year. It comes from northwestern Yunnan, China. There, it grows beneath trees in woods with broad leaves. Records place these scattered plants around 6,234 feet [1,900 metres] above sea level. Its growth is slow. It can reach 26 feet [8 metres] tall.

Flowers appear from April to May, and wind carries the pollen. Each plant has either male or female flowers. A lone plant cannot use its own pollen to make seeds. Plants of both sexes must be present to produce seed. Seeds ripen from October to November. The fruit grows about 1.8 inches [0.045 metres] long. It reaches about 0.8 inches [0.02 metres] wide. In Britain, the fruit does not always ripen fully.

Choose a spot with shelter and moist soil that drains well. Sandy soil suits it, but loam and clay work too. The soil can be mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline. Avoid dry gravel and chalky ground. Part shade suits it best, but it can take full shade. It may grow in full sun without doing its best. Mild, wet sites on western Scotland's coast are an exception. There, plants can grow well even in full sun. They need moist air and shelter from harsh exposure.

PFAF lists USDA zones 7–10 and tolerance near −5 to −10°C. It warns that colder parts of Britain may not suit it. Frost can harm new spring growth, even on mature plants. This shrub suits garden sites among trees and in shaded borders. It can also form a hedge in shade. It takes pruning well. Seeds can take 18 months or more to sprout. Young seedlings need cover in their first winter. PFAF describes growing new plants from greenwood cuttings as hard.

Whether this species is safe to eat remains unclear. PFAF suggests edible fruit and seeds based on a related species. This does not show that these parts are safe here. Unripe fruit has a strong taste of resin that lasts. PFAF reports no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. It lists no uses as medicine. The supplied evidence names no specific pests or diseases.