Yew (lat. Taxus) is a genus of plants from the Yew family (lat. Taxaceae). In their natural environment, yews grow in temperate zones in the northern hemisphere: in Asia, North America and western Europe. There are representatives from the tropics: Florida and Java.

Description

The genus is represented by slow-growing evergreen trees or shrubs. The annual growth is from 2 to 15 cm. Dioecious and monoecious plants can be from 1 m to 25 in height. The diameter of the trunk reaches 3 m. The crown is very dense, columnar or ovoid-cylindrical, sometimes has several peaks. The bark is reddish-gray, smooth. The trunk is covered with dormant buds, from which lateral shoots develop. Needle-shaped leaves up to 3.5 cm long, glossy, dark green. Anther and seed cones are solitary, located in the leaf axils.

Leaves and fruits of yew

Pollination occurs in April-May. The seeds are hard, oval brown in color, surrounded by a fleshy roller, often bright red (it tastes sweet). In their natural environment, they grow in the second tier of deciduous forests or mixed beech, spruce, and fir. All parts of the plant (except the fleshy roller) are poisonous: they contain the alkaloid taxine. It often happens that plants bloom and bear fruit for two years in a row, and then rest for a year.

Yew botanical illustration

Species and varieties

T. short-leaved(lat. T. brevifolia) or T. Pacific - a species common along the Pacific coast. Bush or tree from 5 to 25 m. It grows very slowly (over 30 years, height 1 m), the crown is wide. Branches drooping, needles 1-2 cm.

T. canadian(lat. T. canadensis) grows in the undergrowth of coniferous forests. The trees are low, bushy, from 1 m to 2 m tall. The needles are sickle-shaped, yellowish-green above, light green below. T. Canadian winter-hardy, but young seedlings cover for the winter.

T. Canadian (T. canadensis)

T. berry(lat. T. baccata) or T. European - a common species, grows almost throughout Europe, is found in the Caucasus and Asia Minor, often in mountain forests, can grow on sandy soils. Trees are dioecious. They grow up to 15-17 m, in some regions up to 25 m. They have a spreading and dense crown. The length of the needles is 2-3 cm, it is updated every 6-8 years. Flowers are laid in autumn in the axils of the leaves at the base of the branches. The seed coat is bright red. The species is shade-tolerant and frost-resistant. Perfectly tolerates haircuts and transplants. On its basis, many varieties have been bred, some of which can be purchased in nurseries.

For instance: "Amersfoort"(‘Amersfoort’) is a low view with oval needles that is exceptionally interesting for landscape design.

"Fastigiata Robusta"(‘Fastigiata Robusta’) - trees with a strictly columnar crown shape and long needles. Grow up to 3-5 m.

"Summergold"(‘Summergold’) - the variety has a wide flat crown, sickle-shaped needles 2-3 cm, golden yellow color. Can be grown in sunny areas.

T. berry "Summergold" (T. baccata ‘Summergold’)

T. far east(lat. T. cuspidate) or T. spiky is a tall tree up to 20-22 m. In the wild, it is found in the Primorsky Territory, on the Korean Peninsula and Japan. On Sakhalin Island, it grows only up to 3 m. The crown is irregular in shape, the branches are horizontal. Narrow leaves 2-3 cm long, crescent-shaped. The seeds are surrounded by a pink seedling up to half the length. They ripen in August-September. T. spiky frost-resistant, can withstand cold down to -40 ° C, tolerates drought well and has no requirements for soil composition. Popular varieties:

"Nana"(‘Nana’) - tolerates frost well, irregularly shaped crown, grows up to 2 m up and up to 10 m wide, grows by 5 cm annually, has a powerful root system.

"Expansa"(‘Expansa’) - a plant without a central trunk, vase-shaped. It grows slowly: in twenty years it grows only up to 3 m. The variety is widespread in the USA.

T. medium "Hicksie" (T. ×media ‘Hicksii’)

There are also two natural hybrids. Most famous:

T. medium(lat. T. ×media) was obtained by crossing T. berry and T. spiky. The leaves of the hybrid are softer green, and the young ones are emerald, the central vein is very clearly visible. The length of the needles is 1.5-3 cm. They grow up to 2 m. Fruiting is annual, fruit ripening in September. The hybrid reproduces well by cuttings (40% efficiency). Many varieties have been bred, for example, you can buy 'Hicksii' seedlings from us - two forms: male and female. The shape of the crown is narrow columnar. It grows up to 4 m. The branches are vertically directed. Needles 3 cm long, 0.3 mm wide, dark green, shiny. Annual growth 15 cm. Cuttings are 90% successful.

Photogallery of species

cultivation

Location. It is better to plant in places closed from the wind. Yews are one of the most shade-tolerant plants, some species grow well in lighted areas.

Soils. There is no unequivocal recommendation for soils, each type has individual preferences. The most versatile mixture: garden soil, peat, sand (3:2:2). T. spiky prefers loamy soils, does not like acidified and swampy soils. T. Canadian grows well on slightly acidic and neutral. T. berry develops on alkaline and slightly acidic soils. All plants need drainage up to 20 cm. Yews are sensitive to soil pollution with heavy metals and toxins, so in urban conditions they can grow and dry out unimportantly.

Topiary masterpieces

Watering. Plants do not tolerate excessive moisture, so they need to be watered only once a month. In general, yew is a drought-resistant plant. He likes sprinkling, which is done once every 2 weeks in the evening.

Landing. Planted at a distance of 60 cm from each other, planting depth up to 70 cm, root collar flush with the ground. When laying hedges, trenches 50 x 50 cm are made. When planting, universal fertilizer is applied. Planting is mulched.

pruning. Yews tolerate shearing and shortening branches by a third very well. Since they grow very slowly, only decorative pruning is required once a year (autumn).

Shaping the yew

Care. Young seedlings are mulched with peat for the winter, wrapped in the northern regions. Adult yews are hardy. So that the branches do not break under the weight of snow, the crown is pulled with ropes and the branches are pulled to the trunk. To protect against insects in the spring, they are treated with 1% karbofos.

reproduction

seeds

Seeds are harvested in autumn, stored at a temperature of 5-6 °C. The most effective is sowing in the fall, because if you do it in the spring, you will need a seven-month stratification (so they will germinate in two months, and without a procedure - only after 1-3 years). Growing a yew from seeds is a matter for the most patient, because a plant suitable for planting can be obtained only after eight years.

Yew seedlings can be purchased at a specialized center

cuttings

A faster method used to propagate varietal yews. In autumn, three- and five-year-old apical or lateral (in bushy varieties) shoots are taken for cuttings, 20 cm long. They are planted in a box with a mixture of peat and sand, covered and placed indoors (greenhouse). The ends of the cuttings can be treated with a growth stimulator. Roots appear after 3 months. Planted in May. The growing period of the plant lasts 5-7 years.

An interesting fact: plants grown from cuttings taken from vertically directed branches develop in a vertical direction. Trees obtained from cuttings cut from horizontal branches grow spreading and low.

Composition of yew and boxwood

Usage

Yew is one of the most common conifers used in the US and Europe for landscaping: it is planted in containers, on rooftops, on terraces. In landscape design, they are grown in groups, used for rock gardens.

A very popular plant for hedges and high borders. Green spaces in partnership with boxwood make it possible to create real masterpieces of landscape gardening art. Masters of topiary (curly haircut) create various forms from yews: animals, architectural elements, geometric patterns, etc. An indispensable plant for creating parks in a classic style, yew alleys of columnar varieties look very nice. It looks spectacular in company with rhododendrons and other conifers that have an excellent look of needles. Yews have very beautiful reddish wood, which can also be used for decorative purposes.

Yew is a tree or coniferous shrub that is characterized by slow growth and dense branches. The main value of these trees lies in their excellent decorative qualities, which were noticed even in the Baroque era. Currently, evergreen culture is often used to create hedges, borders, and simply to decorate your summer cottage.

Among all varieties of yew trees, the most popular are berry, Far Eastern, Canadian and short-leaved. Although the plants are considered slow growing, they make an ideal hedge crop, as they have densely spaced branches with dense green hairs that do not lose their saturation even with the advent of winter.

The yew itself belongs to the yew family.. In its genus, the culture includes 8 closely related species that grow in their natural habitat on the territory of the temperate and subtropical zone in the Northern Hemisphere. Outwardly, the varieties of yew trees are so similar to each other that some experts believe that they are all just a geographical variety of the main species Taxus Baccata.

Berry, or ordinary

Berry yew is a coniferous tree that is characterized by slow growth. The maximum height of this species is 15 m. The crown is quite wide, the shoots are branched and soft. The bark has a reddish-brown hue. The culture begins to bloom with the advent of spring, but the flowers of this plant are not particularly attractive. The flowers of male trees outwardly resemble cones that are in the axils of the leaves. The inflorescences of the female yew look like buds. When flowering ends, red fruits form in place of the flowers. It is worth noting that all varieties of this type of conifer are classified as poisonous.

Previously, this species was widespread in the central European part. But today this species is rare and is under protection. The most common varieties are:

This variety of coniferous tree is in the Red Book. The maximum height of the pointed species is 20 m, but the variety is very slow growing. At 1.5 meters, this culture stretches as much as 30 years. At the same time, the life expectancy of the conifer is 1500 years. The crown of the shrub is ovoid, the bark is red-brown in color, has yellowish specks. Coniferous needles are pointed, spikes are located at the ends. From the outside, the needles are of a pale green hue, and from below the surface is covered with yellow stripes. The needles can stay on the branches for 5 years.

The spiky yew is a hardy and drought tolerant plant. Also, the culture is quite unpretentious to the soil. Shrubs will feel best in a shaded place; they are also not afraid of gas and smoke. If the conifer grows in uncomfortable conditions, then it will begin to creep. The most popular varieties of pointed yew are:

The middle yew has some similarities with the berry and spiky ephedra. But this species is characterized by faster growth than, for example, berry. The branches are painted in an olive hue, in direct sunlight the needles become reddish.

The branches are arranged vertically. The needles of a medium yew are somewhat reminiscent of pointed needles, but the needles are arranged in two rows. The length of one needle is from 1.3 to 2.7 cm. The width of one needle is 0.3 cm.

Every year the culture bears fruit. At the end of August, the seeds begin to ripen. The variety is drought-resistant and frost-resistant. The main advantage of the plant lies in a fairly simple method of propagation using cuttings. In its genus, the middle yew has about 40 varieties. The most common of them are:

Canadian shrub

Canadian yew prefers to grow in marshy places. For 15 years, plants can grow only 1.3 m in height. In breadth, the crown for the same period of time reaches a maximum of 1.5 m. This type of conifer is considered the absolute record holder in life expectancy, since there are shrubs on the planet that are more than 150 centuries old.

The varieties have brown bark, yellowish needles with a green tint, which is slightly bent. The length of the needles is 2.5 cm. The shrub blooms in March. After flowering, fruits are formed that look like berries. The main advantage of the Canadian yew is its excellent frost resistance.

Another feature of this species is the presence of a superficial root system. At the tips of the roots are mycorrhiza. The branches are mostly strong, grow vertically. In mature plants, the shoots are creeping, and the branches are ascending.

Such species of yew in their natural habitat can be found in the west of North America along the Pacific coast, as well as in the mountains. Conifers can grow both singly and in families.

The short-leaved yew is a slow growing species. In height, the conifer reaches a maximum of 15 m. The crown of the shrub is presented in the form of skittles. The branches are rather fragile, grow in a horizontal position or upwards, young branches hang down a little. The needles are yellowish-green in color, arranged in two rows, the length of the coniferous needle is 1 cm.

All varieties of short-leaved yew are very unpretentious in care, they can grow on any soil, but it is better to give preference to loam. You can grow both in lighted places and in the shade. The species is winter hardy.

Planting and care in the open field

Evergreen conifers are shade tolerant. In those areas that are characterized by not too cold winters, the culture is able to grow successfully in open sunny areas. But in the most severe climatic conditions, some varieties can suffer from cold winter winds, so it is best to choose places sheltered from drafts for cultivation.

Best of all, yew will feel on fertile loam. On loose and scarce lands, shrubs will grow slowly, but at the same time they will be better able to endure the winter period, since such soil thaws much faster with the advent of spring days. During planting, it is recommended to add a little coniferous soil from the forest to the soil mixture, as it contains soil fungi.

Mature shrubs do not need any fertilizer. In addition, mineral or organic fertilization can cause the death of mycorrhiza, as well as cause slow growth.

These perennial evergreen conifers easily survive transplantation, but it is not recommended to organize it during the active growth of young branches. It is best to transplant in the spring or early summer. In autumn, it is allowed to transplant specimens that have a dense root system, or those that have been grown in containers. It is also not recommended to deepen the root collar during transplantation.

When growing, it is worth remembering that yews are moisture-loving plants only during active growth. Mature specimens are considered drought tolerant. Groundwater that is close to the soil surface can be detrimental to plants.

To prevent freezing, all varieties of yew are recommended to be periodically mulched and cover the root system area with soil or fallen leaves. Those specimens that were planted in open areas where there are drafts are recommended to be covered with an installed dense mesh frame, on top of which coniferous spruce branches are laid. With the onset of frost, it is also recommended to stretch the warming fabric and throw snow on top. Winter shelter must be removed gradually, while the shrub must be shaded without fail so that direct sunlight does not burn the plants.

The yew coniferous plant is considered unpretentious in care, so it can decorate any suburban area. Due to the wide variety of forms of the conifer, you can create different decorative compositions.

yew tree

Coniferous plant Yew in the photo

Yew belongs to a very valuable coniferous species. It is the only tree that can withstand full shade. It is easier than other conifers to cut, forming a crown.

In nature, 8 types of yew are known, photos and descriptions of which are presented on this page. They are all small evergreen coniferous trees and shrubs native to the temperate to tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Two types of coniferous yew plants are found in Russia, one in the Caucasus, the other in the Far East. Both are most in demand as ornamental shrubs and have many dozens of original forms.

The length of the needles is usually 2-3 cm, the width reaches 0.3 cm. Yews are single and dioecious plants belonging to the group of gymnosperms, like other conifers. But the fruits of yew are not at all like the cones of pines and firs. They look like berries, the seed of which is almost completely hidden by the fleshy pericarp.

Yew berry in the photo

Yew berry, or European, can grow as a fairly large tree or shrub. The largest yews grow in the Caucasus - up to 27 m tall. They have an ovoid-cylindrical, multi-apex, rather dense crown. The needles are dark green, shiny.

The berry is bright red, surrounding the seed to the very top.

The history of the culture of this yew has thousands of years. Currently, it has over a hundred different forms, many of which can grow with us.

The most interesting varieties of berry yew are:

Yew "Dovastoniana" in the photo

"Dovastoniana"- reaches a maximum height of 5 m. The crown is quite dense, sprawling. The form is widely known and popular all over the world. It is used in a variety of ways: singly and in the form of groups, including for curly haircuts;

"Fastigiata"- has a wide-columnar crown, reaching a height of 5 m, quite frost-resistant.

"Semperaurea"- grows in the form of a dense bush with upward shoots up to 2 m high. The needles are about 2 cm long, golden yellow. Famous and popular shape with unusual coloring. It is used for single planting, hedges;

"Compact" slow growing form with an oval or cone-shaped crown with raised branches and dark green needles. Good for small alpine slides.

Below you can find a photo and description of a yew tree of other species.

Yew capitate in the photo

Yew capitate- a tree with bare brownish-green shoots. The bark of the trunks is gray, exfoliating. Likes loose, well-drained soils. It is decorative with wide dark green needles, shiny above, below - with two light stripes. Well cuttings.

Yew pointed, or Far Eastern, grows in the mountains of the Far East and on Sakhalin in the form of a tall (up to 20 m) tree and spreading shrub. It has frost-resistant forms that can endure the climate of central Russia without damage. The needles of this species are 2-3 cm long and lighter than those of the yew berry, turning brown in the autumn.

For two years, it retains pale pink berries with a whitish bloom, which cover the seed only up to half of its length.

The decorative form of the pointed yew is "Nana". This is a dwarf plant with a beautiful dense crown and juicy dark green needles. Reaches 1 m in height and 3 m in crown diameter.

Canadian yew frost resistance exceeds all other species. In nature, it grows as a low shrub no more than 2 m high. The needles are rather short, 1.5-2.0 cm. Bright red berries cover most of the seed. It has decorative forms, very promising for Russia.

The middle yew occupies an intermediate position between the pointed and Canadian yew. Known for its popular decorative forms:

"Hilli"- grows in the form of a dense broad-pyramidal tree up to 5 m high with a crown diameter of up to 3 m. Very good for cutting, frost-resistant;

"Hicksey"- reaches a height of 1.5-3 m with a width of just over a meter. The crown is columnar, dense. In terms of popularity, it is not inferior to the previous form, tk. has outstanding decorative qualities and frost resistance.

Look at the photo - this yew variety is used both in sunny places and in the shade, including for hedges:

Conditions for growing yew, planting and care in the open field

For ease of care when planting a yew, you should choose a suitable place. It is advisable to immediately plant a yew tree where you will form it. It, although it tolerates transplantation well, each time reacts to this by slowing down its already weak growth rate. The older the tree, the less desirable the transplant.

When planting, the size of the hole under the plant should be commensurate with the dimensions of the future tree. For dwarf forms, a diameter and depth of 50 cm is enough, for large ones - a larger size.

When planting and caring for yews in open ground, keep in mind that different species differ somewhat in their soil preferences, but a medium loamy, high-humus, neutral or slightly alkaline reaction can be considered a universal substrate. A substrate option can be a mixture of garden loam or soddy soil and humus in a 3:1 ratio. Wood ash is added at the same time.

Video: Planting a yew berry

You should carefully approach the choice of location. The proximity of groundwater is unacceptable; protection from cold winds by buildings or relief is desirable. In this sense, the western and southern gentle slopes with the accumulation of a large amount of snow are good.

When growing and caring for a yew, remember that the tree grows very slowly for the first six to seven years. Its growth accelerates significantly after 7-8 years, when annual growths can reach 15 cm or more in height and about the same in breadth.

Plant care is to maintain soil moisture and fertility. In drought, watered once every two weeks with irrigation of the crown. It is advisable to water in the evening, then the plants will be in a useful moist atmosphere until the morning. A good technique, as for other conifers, is the mulching of the root zone.

One of the important conditions for growing yew is soil aeration. Yew loves breathable soils, so loosening should be regular. But you should not do it deeply, but only destroy the emerging crust.

In autumn, it is useful to cover the near-stem circles of plants with fallen leaves of ornamental trees. A favorable consequence of this method, in addition to improving aeration and enhancing the activity of earthworms, is an improvement in wintering conditions. Shelter of bushes in central Russia is unnecessary, except if planted too late.

Video: Yew in landscape design

A free-growing yew tree often has a sparse, uneven crown. Dense crowns have mostly decorative forms. Meanwhile, both are equally suitable for a haircut. From a squat flattened plant, you can form a "pillow". Conversely, an upwardly directed tree is more suitable for creating vertical figures. Do not get carried away by the complexity of the outlines. “Pillows”, balls, pyramids or spindle-shaped crowns look no less impressive. The main thing is that the surface of the haircut is perfectly even.

Yew has a high shoot-forming ability, so any shortening causes intensive tillering. Do not resort to heavy pruning. And then you will see with satisfaction how the crown will thicken more and more.

The yew plant (Taxus), also called yew, is a member of the Yew family. This genus unites about 8 species of coniferous trees and shrubs, characterized by slow growth. 3 species are found in Asia, including the Far East, 1 species is found in northern Africa and Europe, and 4 species are found in North America. This culture is very popular with gardeners, it is used in landscape design, as the yew is unpretentious and highly decorative, but in natural conditions this plant is less and less common every year.

Representatives of the genus Yew are dioecious plants. The brown-red bark of such a plant is scaly. The crown has an ovoid-cylindrical shape, often it is multi-peaked. The branches are whorled on the trunk. The flat and soft needles are painted dark green, it is placed on the side branches in two rows, and on the stems - spirally. Needles in length can reach 20-35 mm. The formation of red fruits is observed on female trees, such berries remain on the branches until the onset of the winter period. The height of the shrub yew almost never exceeds 10 m, while the tree-like species can be higher than 20–30 m, and its trunk reaches 4 meters in diameter. In such a plant, wood has antibacterial properties, since it contains a lot of phytoncides. Furniture or ceilings in the house are made from it, thanks to which it is possible to protect the home from infections. Due to the fact that this plant has such valuable wood, popularly referred to as "non-pus-tree", it was included in the Red Book.

Yew can live for about three thousand years, and it is also distinguished by the fact that it is able to rapidly recover after pruning, thanks to which the gardener can create various forms from his crown. Another such culture is different in that it is the most shade-loving, but it also grows very well in sunny areas. If you decide to grow a yew, then remember that all its parts contain poison.

What time to plant

Yew trees are planted in open ground from the last days of August to October. In areas with a mild climate, such a plant is planted in October, in the area that, according to the gardener, is most suitable for this. If, however, in the region where the yew will be grown, the summer period is relatively short, then it is recommended to plant it in the last summer or first autumn weeks, and for this it is imperative to choose well-lit areas. If the seedling has a closed root system, then it can be planted throughout the growing season, but this procedure must be completed before October in areas with mild winters, and no later than the first half of September in regions with a colder climate and short summers.

We must try to protect such a plant from drafts at least during the first few years after planting the seedling in open soil. Yew is recommended to be grown in well-drained, light and fertile soil, its composition can be approximately the following: sand, peat and leaf or sod land (2: 2: 3). But it should be noted that it grows quite well on poor soil. This culture is not suitable for excessively moist or too acidic soil.

To plant a seedling, it is necessary to prepare a hole, the depth of which should be at least 0.7 m, while its width should be 0.2 m higher than the volume of the root system of the seedling, taken with a clod of earth. To create a hedge, it is recommended to plant seedlings in a trench, the depth of which should be about 0.5–0.7 m. A distance of 150–200 cm should be observed between the bushes, and when planting a hedge, it should be less - about 50 cm. When the pit is ready, a good drainage layer must be made at its bottom, the thickness of which should be approximately 0.2 m. Broken brick, crushed stone, river sand or pebbles can act as drainage material.

The seedling in the container must be watered very well, after which it is carefully pulled out of the container and placed in the planting hole. The free space in the pit must be filled with a pre-prepared soil mixture (see the composition above), to which complex mineral fertilizer must be added. For example, you can use Nitroammophoska (1 gram per liter of soil), Kemira-universal (100 grams per 1 m 2 soil mixture) or copper sulfate (15 grams per 1 liter of soil). After planting is completed, the root neck of the plant should be flush with the surface of the site. When the yew is planted, the soil around the bush must be well compacted. Water it well, and after the liquid is completely absorbed into the soil, the surface of the near-stem circle should be covered with a layer of mulch (peat or compost).

Growing a yew in your garden is relatively easy. This plant needs systematic watering and loosening of the soil surface, while its near-stem circle should always be clean. Young bushes for the winter must be covered, and in the spring they need to be protected from sunburn. It is also recommended to systematically carry out preventive treatments that will help protect the bushes from diseases and pests. As the plant grows, it may need regular pruning.

Yews that are less than 3 years old need to be watered systematically. This should be done once every 4 weeks, while 1 bush for 1 watering should consume from 10 to 15 liters of water. Mature plants need watering extremely rarely, as a rule, they have enough rainwater. In addition, such plants are able, if necessary, to extract liquid from the deep layers of the soil, in this they are helped by a powerful root system. However, during a prolonged drought, the plant must be provided with systematic watering, as well as sprinkling of the crown. Moistened soil in the trunk circle must be loosened to a depth of 10 to 15 centimeters, especially during the first 3 years after planting the yew in open soil. If this is not done, then a crust will appear on the ground, which will block the access of oxygen to the root system. At the same time with loosening, all weeds must be pulled out, since pests often settle on them. If there is a desire to reduce the number of weeds, loosening and watering, then the surface of the near-stem circle should be covered with a layer of mulch (needles, peat or sawdust), the thickness of which should be from 8 to 10 centimeters.

top dressing

If during the planting of the bush all the necessary fertilizers were applied to the soil, then they will be enough for him for the whole year. Then top dressing in the soil will have to be applied every year. To do this, you can use Kemira-universal (per 1 m 2 100 grams) or Nitroammophoska (per 1 m 2 from 50 to 70 grams).

Such a plant is characterized by very slow growth, in connection with this, it is not necessary to cut it in the first years. Mature shrubs and trees lend themselves well to crown formation. They will not be able to harm even excessively strong pruning. You need to shorten the stems by no more than 1/3 of the length. It is imperative to cut out all dried, as well as frost-affected or diseased branches. It is recommended to prune the plant in the first days of April before the buds swell.

Transfer

It is recommended to replant such a culture in the spring, while the soil should be well warmed up. First you need to select a site and make a landing pit of the required size (see above for more details). Remove the bush and place it in a new pit, while the root collar, upon completion of planting, should be flush with the surface of the site. At the end of the transplant, the plant is watered abundantly, and the surface is covered with a layer of mulch (organic material).

Pests

The yew can be harmed by pests such as gall midges and yew false scales, which are sucking insects, and it can also be harmed by spruce needle beetles and pine cutworms - these are needle-eating pests. On the bush, on which harmful insects have settled, yellowing, drying and dying of branches, as well as needles, are observed. Experts advise annually in the spring to spray the bushes and the surface of the near-stem circle with a solution of Nitrafen or Karbofos. If harmful insects are found on the plant during the growing season, then the bush and the surface of the tree circle must be sprayed 2-3 times with Rogor or another means of a similar effect. As a rule, 1 treatment is not enough for the complete destruction of pests, so after 10–12 days, treat the plant 1 more time with the same preparation.

For such a culture, the following diseases are dangerous: brown shutte, phomosis, necrosis and fusarium. The symptoms of such diseases are different, but changes in the appearance of the needles should cause anxiety. Most often, the development of diseases is promoted by mechanical trauma to the bark, because of this, various fungal infections enter the plant. Also, specimens are very often sick, for the cultivation of which a lowland with clay heavy soil is chosen. To improve drainage and remove excess water from the soil, several pieces of plastic pipe should be driven into the soil along the perimeter of the trunk, the length of which should be about 0.3 m, while the diseased bush itself should be sprayed with a biofungicide. For preventive purposes, in spring and autumn, yew should be treated with a fungicide containing copper.

Yew breeding

Yew can be propagated by cuttings and seeds. The generative propagation method is relatively laborious, and seedlings grown from seeds in most cases do not retain the varietal characteristics of the mother plant. In this regard, this method of reproduction is used only during the cultivation of species yew or when breeding new varieties of such a crop. It is much easier and faster to propagate this plant with cuttings, plus young plants always inherit parental varietal characteristics.

You can still propagate such a plant by grafting in the butt. However, this method of reproduction is only suitable for specialists.

Cuttings are harvested from three to five-year-old stems, while the length of the segments should be from 15 to 20 centimeters. They are harvested in September and October or in April and May. In cuttings, the lower part must be freed from the bark, while the cut points must be treated with a growth stimulating agent. Then the prepared cuttings are planted in tubs, which must be filled with a soil mixture consisting of peat and sand (2: 1). If the cuttings are made in the autumn, then the cuttings must be kept in a sufficiently warm place throughout the winter, and with the onset of spring, they must be planted in open ground. If this procedure is carried out in the spring, then for a start it is recommended to plant the cuttings under a film in a greenhouse. And after they take root, they are transplanted to the garden plot. The duration of rooting cuttings is about 3-4 months, while during this time the soil around them should be moist. It is necessary to remove the shelter from the cuttings only in the last summer weeks, in which case the plant will have time to adapt to the cold. During the first 3 years, young plants must be covered for the winter, which will help protect the root system from frost.

If the seeds are stored correctly, they remain viable for about 4 years. Experts advise sowing freshly harvested seeds in autumn. If the sowing of seeds is postponed until spring, then they will need to be cold stratified, for this they are kept in the refrigerator for at least 6 months at a temperature of 3 to 5 degrees. Due to this, the germination of seeds will increase significantly. Seeds are sown in March, for this the containers are filled with pre-disinfected soil mixture. They are deepened by half a centimeter, the top of the container must be covered with a film, then it is removed to a warm place. The first seedlings should appear after about 8 weeks, when sowing seeds that have not undergone stratification, they may appear only after 1-3 years. A couple of years after the germination of the seeds, the grown seedlings must be planted on the garden bed in the greenhouse, after another 2 years, the yew is planted in the school. The plant will grow there for 3 or 4 years, after which the seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Autumn Care

When the leaf fall ends, the plant will need to be sprayed in order to prevent pests and diseases, for this you need to use a solution of a fungicidal preparation. Young trees, whose age is less than 3 years, need to be covered for the winter, for this, the trunk circle is covered with a layer of dried foliage of decorative species or peat, the thickness of which should be from 50 to 70 mm. Young trees have very fragile branches and they can easily be injured under the weight of snow, they must be carefully pulled to the trunk and pulled into a bundle.

If a winter with little snow is expected, then the yew can suffer greatly from a severe frost. To prevent this, the bush should be wrapped with lutrasil or spunbond, but first you need to install the frame, because it is necessary that there must be free space between the tree and the covering material. It is not recommended to cover the yew with burlap, since during the thaw it becomes wet, and then covered with ice. Also, for this purpose, it is better not to use roofing felt and polyethylene, since this material does not allow air to penetrate to the branches. It is necessary to remove the shelter in the spring, after the soil warms up well. But at this time, it is necessary to protect the yew from direct sunlight until the formation of young growths, since in the spring the sun is most active, and because of this it can suffer greatly. In spring, in windy and cloudless weather, the root system that has not fully recovered is not able to absorb water normally, at the same time, active evaporation of moisture by needles is observed, which is why yews are easily injured. It is because of this that the plant needs shading from the sun's rays at this time of the year.

Types and varieties of yew with photos and names

The types and varieties of yew that are most popular will be described below.

Canadian yew (Taxus canadensis)

The height of such a bushy lying tree does not exceed 200 cm; its homeland is the forests of eastern North America. The stems are short and covered with a large number of needles, the branches are ascending. The needles have a sickle-curved shape, they are sharply pointed. The upper side of the needles has a greenish-yellow color, and the lower side is pale green with stripes of a lighter color. The species has a high frost resistance. Such a yew is able to withstand temperatures down to minus 35 degrees, but it should be remembered that such properties appear only when the bush reaches the age of three. The following forms are popular:

1. Aurea. The height of such a dwarf densely branching shrub is about 100 cm. The needles are small and painted yellow.
2. Pyramidalis. In such a short bush at a young age, the shape of the crown is pyramidal, and then it becomes loose.

Yew pointed (Taxus cuspidata)

This species is reserved and protected. In nature, it is found in Korea, Manchuria, the Far East and Japan. Most often, the height of such a tree is about 7 meters, but sometimes it reaches 20 meters. This species can still be represented by a shrub, reaching a height of one and a half meters. The shape of the crown is irregular or oval, while the branches are placed horizontally. Young stems, as well as petioles, have a light yellow tint, the color is most intense on the underside. Wide leaf plates have a crescent shape, while the central vein is protruding. The upper part of the needles is colored from dark green to almost black, and the lower part is a paler color. Slightly flattened pointed seeds have an oval shape, they are surrounded by a fleshy seedling of pale red or pink color up to half the length. This plant is highly resistant to frost, but the young bush needs mandatory shelter for the winter. Popular decorative shapes:

1. The crown is thin and wide. Rising long branches have a dark brown striped color. The shape of the rare needles is slightly sickle-shaped, they are pale yellow below and dark green above.
2. Nana. The height of such a low plant is about 100 cm. The branches are powerful and flattened. The crown has an irregular shape. The needles are very fluffy. The shape of the dark green needles is linear, and they reach a length of 25 mm.
3. Minima. This form is the shortest in this species. The height of the bush, as a rule, does not exceed 0.3 m. The color of the stems is brown, the needles are dark green, they are glossy and have an oblong-lanceolate shape.
4. Farmen. The height of such a dwarf bush is about 200 cm, and its crown in diameter reaches 350 cm. There are pale spots on the surface of the brown-red bark, pointed needles are painted dark green, they are placed radially.
5. Capital. Such a plant has a male and female form. It has 1 or more trunks. The shape of the crown is strictly pin-shaped.
6. Columnaris. In such a wide-columnar form, the needles have a dark color.
7. Dance. The crown of such a female form is wide and very pressed. At 50 years old, the tree reaches a height of about 1.2 meters, and its crown is 6 meters across. The color of the needles is dark green.
8. Expansa. The bush is vase shaped but lacks a central stem. When he is 20 years old, his height and width are approximately 300 cm. This form is very popular in the United States of America.

Short-leaved yew (Tahus brevifolia = Tahus baccata var. brevifolia)

This plant is native to western North America. The species can be represented by trees, the height of which is 15–25 meters, as well as shrubs - about 5 meters, the crown has a wide pin shape, the bark is surrounded by pieces. The branches directly from the trunk are relatively thin, the branches hang down a little. Sharply pointed needles are painted greenish-yellow, their length is about 20 mm, and their width is 2 mm. The needles are placed in two rows. The shape of two-to-tetrahedral seeds is ovoid, they reach a length of 0.5 cm, and on top they are covered with seedlings of a rich red color.

Yew berry (Taxus baccata)

This species is found in nature in Asia Minor, Western Europe, and also in the Caucasus; it prefers to grow in mountain forests on sandy and sometimes marshy ground. The height of such a plant is 17–27 meters. The shape of the sprawling lush crown is ovoid-cylindrical, it is also found multi-topped. The trunk is ribbed, and on its surface there is a gray-red bark. As the plant matures, the bark begins to peel off in sheets. The needles are arranged spirally, and on the side branches they are placed in two rows. The upper surface of the flat needles is glossy and dark green, and the lower surface is a matte greenish-yellow color. The seeds are covered with seedlings of a rich red color. Such a plant has many garden forms that are very popular; a classification has been drawn up for them. Most often in gardens there are such forms as:

1. compacta. The height of such a dwarf form can reach a little over 100 cm. The shape of the crown is rounded, in diameter it reaches up to 1 meter. The branches are evenly spaced from the trunk. The upper surface of the sickle-shaped needles is glossy dark green in color, and the lower surface is a slightly lighter color.
2. Erekta. The height of such a male shrub is about 8 meters. The crown is relatively wide. Thin and meek needles have a greenish-gray color.
3. Fastigiata. The height of such a female form is about 5 meters. The crown has a wide-columnar shape, the top is drooping. There are many ascending sharp branches. The needles, spirally arranged on the stems, are bent inward and painted in green-black.
4. Nissens Crown. The height of the shrub is about 2.5 meters, and in diameter its crown can reach from 6 to 8 meters. But when grown in mid-latitudes, the height of such a bush does not exceed the level of snow cover. The thin bark is brown-red. Saturated green needles have a needle shape.
5. Repandence. The height of such a creeping shrub is about half a meter, and in diameter it can reach 5 meters. Horizontally spaced branches are pressed to the soil surface. The shape of the glossy needles is sickle-shaped, their upper surface is painted in a dark bluish-green color. And the lower surface of the needles is flat and has a lighter color. The frost resistance of this variety is high, and therefore it is quite popular among gardeners.
6. Summergold. The crown of this variety is flat and wide. Branches rise obliquely. The shape of the needles is sickle-shaped, their length is about 30 mm, and their width is 3 mm. The needles have a wide margin of a golden yellow color.

Yew medium (Taxus media)

This yew is in an intermediate position between the berry yew and the pointed yew. The height of this species is greater than that of the yew berry. Older branches have a greenish-olive color, but over time, under the influence of the sun, they acquire a pale red hue. The stems are ascending. The length of the needle needles is about 2.7 cm, and the width is up to 0.3 cm, they are arranged in two rows and have a distinct midrib. The species is resistant to frost and drought, reproduces well by seed and has a large number of decorative forms:

1. Densiformis. The height of such a female plant is about 150 cm. The lush crown of a rounded shape in diameter reaches 300 cm. Thin sharp needle needles have a greenish color, their length is about 2.2 cm, and their width is about 0.3 cm.
2. Grandifolia. The bush is squat. The length of large dark green needles is about 3 cm, and their width is 0.3 cm.
3. Straight Hedge. The height of such a female shrub is about 5 meters. The narrow-columnar flat crown in diameter reaches about 1.5 m. Two-line curved needles of a dark green color. The needles are lush.
4. Ward. The crown of such a female plant has a flat-round shape. The height of the plant is about 2 meters, and in diameter it reaches 6 meters. Tightly standing needles have a dark green color.
5. Sabian. Such a male shrub is characterized by slow growth, its crown is wide, and the top is flat. The height of a twenty-year-old bush is approximately 1.8 meters, and its width by this time reaches 4 meters.

Short-leaved yew (Tahus brevifolia)

In nature, this species is found in the west of North America, it prefers to grow on mountain slopes, along the banks of rivers and streams, as well as in gorges. It is represented by trees, the height of which is about 25 meters, as well as shrubs - up to 5 meters. Differs in slow growth. The shape of the crown is wide-eyed. The bark comes off the surface of the trunk in plates. The branches hang down a little, and the branches are directly spaced from the trunk. Two-row needle needles of a greenish-yellow color are up to 2 cm long and about 0.2 cm wide.

Other hybrid and natural forms of yew are also cultivated by gardeners.