Also known as Yew · 445 gardener saves
Taxus: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Taxus, the genus most gardeners know as yew. We track 20 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 12 most-saved Taxus varieties
Of 20 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedGolden Japanese Yew
Taxus cuspidata 'Aurescens'
#2 most savedDark Green Spreader Yew
Taxus baccata 'Dark Green Spreader'
#3 most savedHicks Yew
Taxus baccata 'Hicksii'
English Yew Skinny
Taxus baccata 'Skinny'
English Yew 'Dark Druid'
Taxus baccata 'Dark Druid'
Stonehenge English Yew
Taxus baccata 'Stonehenge'
Upright Japanese Yew
Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata'
Green Wave Japanese Yew
Taxus cuspidata 'Green Wave'
Taunton's Yew
Taxus media 'Tauntonii'
Emerald Spreader Japanese Yew
Taxus cuspidata 'Emerald Spreader'
Hatfield Yew
Taxus media 'Hatfieldii'
Densiformis Yew
Taxus media 'Densiformis'
Browse all 20 Taxus varieties →
How to grow Taxus
What the Taxus varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 20 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Taxus year
- PruneMay and June100% of varieties
Shear or prune once or twice in early to mid-summer to maintain hedge form.
- FertilizeMarch80% of varieties
Apply balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring
- Check for PestsApril–July70% of varieties
Inspect for scale insects, mealybugs, and vine weevil damage.
- PlantMarch, April, September and October40% of varieties
Plant in spring or fall in any well-drained soil.
Do
- Prune to maintain shape and remove dead branches
- Provide excellent drainage.
- Water regularly during dry spells 🌱
- Water deeply during dry spells 🌱
- Mulch annually to conserve moisture
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Do not plant in waterlogged or poorly drained soil.
- Avoid overwatering ❌
- Don’t prune in late summer or fall
What goes wrong with Taxus
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Scale insects | Sticky honeydew and sooty mold | Use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap |
| Black Vine Weevil | Notching on needle edges from adults; larvae damage roots causing wilt. | Apply beneficial nematodes to soil for larvae. Use pyrethroid-based insecticides for adults. |
| Scale Insects | Small, immobile bumps on stems and needles, often with sticky honeydew. | Spray with horticultural oil in early spring. For heavy infestations, use a systemic insecticide. |
| Yew Scale | Brown, oyster-shaped scales on needles and twigs, leading to yellowing and sooty mold. | Apply dormant oil in late winter. Use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap when crawlers are active. |
| Root rot | Wilting, yellowing foliage | Improve drainage and reduce watering |
| Phytophthora Root Rot | Foliage turns dull green, then yellow or brown. Plant wilts and dies. Roots are black and mushy. | No cure. Prevention is key: plant in well-drained soil or raised beds. Remove and destroy infected plants. |
| Root Rot | Dull, yellowing, or browning foliage; wilting; plant death. Caused by poorly drained soil. | Improve soil drainage before planting. There is no cure. Remove and destroy infected plants. |
Making more Taxus
Cuttings
- Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer
- Dip in rooting hormone and plant in moist soil
- Keep soil consistently moist for 6 weeks
Semi-hardwood cuttings
- Take 6-inch cuttings in late summer or early autumn.
- Remove needles from the bottom half and dip in rooting hormone.
- Stick in a mix of peat and perlite.
- Keep moist in a cold frame; rooting may take up to a year.
Taxus questions
How many types of Taxus are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 20 distinct Taxus varieties. The most popular — ranked by 445 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Taxus grow in?
Across its varieties, Taxus covers USDA Zones 4–9. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Taxus bloom?
Most Taxus varieties bloom in mid spring, early spring, late fall. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Taxus should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Design with Taxus in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
