Taxus baccata

Are you looking for a reliable evergreen that offers year-round structure and can handle the varying conditions found in many UK gardens? Meet the Taxus baccata, or common Yew, a magnificent plant celebrated for its dense, bushy, evergreen habit and its suitability for formal shaping.

Through the seasons, this plant provides consistent dark green foliage, punctuated by subtle yellow or creamy flowers appearing in March and April, followed by those attractive red berries on female plants throughout the autumn, offering late-season food for birds, while its dense foliage provides excellent shelter. This specimen typically forms an upright, compact shape ideal for structure where planting space may be limited.

The Yew thrives best in well-drained soil, tolerating both chalk and clay provided the ground is not waterlogged, and it happily accepts locations ranging from full sun through to deep shade, making it very versatile for creating formal hedging or as a solitary statement plant; knowing how to establish your evergreen hedging plant in clay soil is key to its long-term success.