- The yew - a profile
- Old yew trees are resistant to drought and cold
- The yew is highly poisonous!
- Use of the yew tree in the garden
The yew is an evergreen coniferous tree that is mainly found in Europe but also in North Africa. It is very popular in gardens or pots because after a while it is completely easy to care for. A small profile of the yew.
There are 80 different species of yew
The yew - a profile
- Botanical name: Taxus baccata
- Family: Yew family
- Genus: conifers
- Species: about 80 species
- Distribution: Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor
- Reproduction: separate
- Location: shady, half-shady, sunny locations, calcareous, moist without waterlogging
- Age: 1,000 years and more
- Height: up to 15 meters
- Wood: very hard but flexible
- Fertile from: 20 to 30 years
- Flowering time: March to April
- Fruits: small, red berry-like fruits
- Fruit ripening: autumn
- Needles: rounded, flexible
- Color of the needles: dark green, lighter underneath
- Earlier use: In the Middle Ages, weapon making, medicine
- Current use: ornamental tree, hedge plant, topiary
- Toxicity: highly toxic (taxin) in almost all parts of the plant
Old yew trees are resistant to drought and cold
Yews are among the sturdiest native conifers. They form a dense root system with which they can take care of themselves even in times of drought.
You have to water a young, freshly planted yew tree in the first few years during dry periods, as the roots have not yet developed sufficiently. Fertilizing is only necessary in the early years.
The yew is highly poisonous!
The yew is a highly poisonous tree. If parts of the yew are eaten, there is a risk of death. All parts, except the pulp, contain the dangerous taxine. Not only people can get poisoned, but also animals, especially horses.
Birds like to eat the fruits that ripen in autumn, but excrete the seeds undigested. This allows them to propagate the tree without poisoning themselves.
When cutting and tending yew trees, hands and face should be protected from contact with the needles.
Use of the yew tree in the garden
Because they are easy to cut, yews are particularly popular as hedges and topiaries. The tree can be cut into almost any shape - from a ball to an animal shape.
tips
Yew trees are threatened with extinction in the wild and are on the "Red List". You should therefore buy yew trees from a specialist store or propagate them yourself with cuttings or fruit.