Yew Hedging Plant (Taxus Baccata)

The Yew tree (Taxus baccata) is a native evergreen conifer valued for its dense, dark green foliage, exceptional longevity and versatility as a hedge plant across UK gardens and landscapes. Slow to moderate growing, Yew thrives in most well drained soils and tolerates full sun to partial shade, making it equally suited to formal hedging, topiary or as a striking standalone specimen. Bright red arils appear in autumn and winter, providing an important food source for birds such as thrushes and blackbirds, though the seeds and foliage are toxic if ingested, so Yew is best sited away from grazing livestock. Left unclipped, Yew can reach up to 20 metres in height, though regular trimming keeps it compact as an evergreen hedge.

As an evergreen hedge, Yew forms one of the densest and most durable screens available, tolerating hard pruning and regenerating readily from old wood.

Long favoured as a hedging plant for churchyards and formal gardens alike, Yew can live for hundreds of years, making it a lasting addition to any planting scheme.