Northwest Native Plants   Western Yew  

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Western yew - Taxus Brevifolia

Appearance

  • Grows 3 to 8 meters tall
  • A small scraggly trees with spare droopy branches and a twisted trunk
  • The bark is very thin
  • Western Red CedarLeaves 1 to ½ cenemeter needles
 Western Yew

Habitat

  • A common tree in the under story of larger forests
  • Grow well in well drained soil
  • Grows usually in moist sites
 Western Yew

Growth Habit

  • Can be grown from hardwood cuttings or seeds
  • Fruits ripen August to October
  • It is a evergreen

Natural History

  • Fruits are eaten by a wide variety of birds but are poisonous to humans
  • Folia is poisonous to cattle and horses but is also use to treat cancer