yews

Yews are evergreen conifers belonging to the genus Taxus, a group of shrubs or small trees native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They have flat, often lanceolate needles about 2–3 cm long, dark green on the upper surface and lighter beneath with a single pale stomatal band. Yews are dioecious; female plants produce a red, fleshy aril that surrounds a single seed. All parts of the plant contain toxic alkaloids, and the seeds and other tissues should be treated as poisonous to humans and many animals, though birds commonly disperse the seeds after feeding on the aril.

Taxus species are widespread across Europe, Asia, and North America and are widely cultivated for ornamental use. They tolerate shade and, once established, poorer soils and drought. They are slow-growing but can reach substantial size and are favored for formal hedges, topiary, and specimen trees. Common cultivated species include Taxus baccata (European yew), Taxus canadensis (Canadian yew), Taxus cuspidata (Japanese yew), and Taxus brevifolia (Pacific yew).

In addition to horticulture, yew wood is dense and elastic and has historically been used for archery bowstaves, carving, and other fine work. Yew bark and leaves contain paclitaxel (Taxol), a potent anti-cancer compound first isolated from the Pacific yew; today it is produced through sustainable methods such as plant cell culture and semisynthetic processes to avoid harvesting bark from wild trees.

Conservation and safety: Some wild populations are threatened by habitat loss and overharvesting. Because of the toxicity of all parts of the plant, ingestion should be avoided and kept away from children and pets.