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Irish yew

Originally discovered in County Fermanagh in 1780 this tree is thought to be a strange offshoot of the common yew which was subsequently cultivated for the different foliage and upright growth.

What other names does it have?

Generic name	Yew
Latin name	Taxus baccata 'fastigiata'
Family name	Yew
Latin family name	Taxaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a conifer
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	No, it is evergreen

Species description:

Average height	Up to 7m

Leaf

Description	The individual needles curve and are arranged all the way around the twig
Shape	Needle
Colour	Blackish green
Leaf stalk	No stalk

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of seed body	Berry
Seeds dispersed by	Wildlife

Bark and twig

Bark description	Grey and purplish with some scales
Twig Description	Green

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Common yew- this has leaves which are more green and arranged on each side of the stem horizontally.

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Non-native - commonly planted
Where is its natural range?	As a cultivated tree its does not have a natural range like other trees. However it was discovered in Ireland so this could be considered it's native range.
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Tolerates a range of conditions but prefers limestone
What is its British conservation status?	Frequent

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber	Planted as an ornamental tree in cemetaries, parks and gardens

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©2012 The Woodland Trust