Taxus floridana aka Florida Yew

Taxus floridana, or Florida yew, is an evergreen conifer. It belongs to the yew family, Taxaceae. It grows as a large shrub or small tree. Garden sources place its native range in the Florida panhandle. There, it grows beside the Apalachicola River in wooded ravines. Missouri Botanical Garden describes a narrow range along the river's eastern bank. Kew also lists parts of northeastern Mexico within its range. NC State describes the species as critically endangered.

Florida yew grows slowly and forms a dense crown. Its branches spread outward, and plants often have several trunks. Garden height and width are often 12–18 feet [3.7–5.5 metres]. Some plants reach 25 feet [7.6 metres] tall. University of Florida also reports spreads reaching 25 feet [7.6 metres]. The crown may have an oval or vase shape. Young bark is smooth and has a purple-brown tone. Older bark breaks into thin scales of uneven size. Young branches turn from orange to brown as they age.

The soft, flat needles stay dark green through the year. Fresh growth adds a brighter green shade to the crown. Leaves reach about one inch long and have pointed tips. They form two rows along the shoots. Two gray stomatal bands mark each leaf's lower side. Crushed leaves give off a mild scent. This conifer has cones rather than true flowers or fruits. Male and female cones grow on separate plants. Male trees bear small yellow pollen cones along their shoots. Female trees form fleshy red arils around single seeds. These ripen in fall, and birds eat them.

Grow Florida yew in rich soil that drains well. Slightly acid soil and part shade suit it best. It also tolerates full sun and deep shade. Keep soil evenly moist, but avoid wet ground. It tolerates some drought and has poor salt tolerance. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA zones 8–10. University of Florida gives a narrower range of 8–9a. Shelter from harsh winds helps prevent winter burn. Its dense growth suits specimens, hedges, screens, and woodland gardens.

Possible pests include scale, mealybugs, and weevils. Twig blight and needle blight can also occur. Poor drainage can lead to root rot. Seeds and leaves poison people, pets, and livestock. Ingestion can cause vomiting, seizures, breathing trouble, and death. Treat this plant as an ornamental, not a food crop.