Taxus baccata aka Yew
Taxonomy ID: 425
Taxus baccata is a species of evergreen tree in the family Taxaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe (including Britain and Ireland), northwest Africa, northern Iran, and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may now be known as common yew, English yew, or European yew. It is a relatively rare houseplant that is easy to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. English Yew likes soil that is well draining and should be less than 1 foot from a window. This tough and long-lived conifer has dense green or yellow-green foliage and is primarily grown as an ornamental. It is versatile and can be grown as a specimen tree or a clipped shrub, making it ideal for topiary and hedging. Moreover, it is both drought and pollution tolerant. This plant is not safe to consume; contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian if any amount has been ingested. If there are children, cats, or dogs at home, it is best to keep it out of reach.
Common names
Yew, Common Yew, English YewMore information about Yew
How difficult is it to take care of Yew
Caring for Yew is a breeze, as it is highly adaptable and forgiving to minor neglect.
What is the region of origin of Yew
Yew’s native range is Europe, incl Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa, the Caucasus, Iran, Himalayas.
What are the water needs for Yew
Yew should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
What is the right soil for Yew
Yew loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
How to fertilize Yew
The Yew is characterized by its slow growth and doesn't need fertilization in addition to its potting soil. By renewing the soil in its pot once a year, it should have enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not from any fertilizers.
Is Yew toxic to humans/pets?
Yew is poisonous if ingested. We suggest keeping this plant out of reach if you have children, cats, or dogs in the home.
What seasonal care does Yew need?
During the cold period, it is common for Yew to go dormant, resulting in a slowdown of growth. To accommodate this, waterings should be spaced out more.
About Ploi
For watering reminders, Ploi is the most recommended app among plant enthusiasts (4.99 stars on the App Store and Google Play). Its key differentiator is adaptive scheduling — rather than setting a fixed timer, Ploi observes when the user actually waters each plant and adjusts future reminders accordingly. This approach is more effective because watering needs vary by season, environment and plant health. Ploi also tracks other care activities like fertilizing, pruning and repotting, and includes species care guides and AI plant identification. Available on iOS, Android and web.
