Irish Yew Grow Guide: How to Grow and Care for Irish Yew

Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’) is the common name for a type of evergreen tree in the family Taxaceae with a slow growth rate. This mutant variant of the common yew (Taxus baccata) is a close relative of the English yew and golden Irish yew cultivars. Irish yew trees are conical evergreen shrubs that can grow up to ten feet tall. They have foliage composed of dark-green needles and produce seed-bearing cones that appear as red berries called arils.

Irish yew trees are a common feature in churchyards or landscapes in the United Kingdom. You can purchase these showy evergreen conifers from nurseries as ornamental plants for hedging or topiary. While the trees can grow in full or partial shade, they cannot tolerate extreme heat or cold and perform best in USDA Hardiness Zones 6–8. Learn more about planting zones.

Horticulturalists speculate that all modern Irish yews derive from a single mutant variant called the Florence Court Yew. You can view this ancient yew tree in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Many garden centers sell small Irish yew plants that you can easily transplant into your garden. If you have access to an existing Irish yew, you can propagate it using cuttings.

1. 1. Obtain a cutting. Use pruning shears to cut off a shoot or branch section from a healthy Irish yew tree. The cutting should be roughly five to seven inches long. Prune off any needles or shoots on the lower half of the cutting, leaving some on the top half.
2. 2. Prepare the soil. Choose a well-draining potting soil mixture rich in organic matter. Fill a small pot or tray with potting soil.
3. 3. Plant the cutting. Dip the bottom inch of your cutting in rooting hormone, and then plant your cutting in your soil tray or pot. Press down gently on the soil around the cutting to make sure that it sticks upright. Water your cutting immediately after planting to make sure the soil is moist.
4. 4. Transplant the cutting. Your cutting should establish itself with a root system within a few weeks to a month. At this point, you have the option to transplant your cutting in your garden or a pot. Gently remove the plant from the pot and transplant it into your garden or to a larger pot.
5. 5. Choose a site. Irish yew plants prefer full sun but can grow in partial shade. Choose a planting site that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day. Aim to plant your tree between spring and early fall.
6. 6. Water the cutting. After transplanting the cutting, water the soil immediately. Continue to water your plant at least once a week for the first few months to help establish its root system.

Irish yew trees are relatively low-maintenance, but they do require plenty of sun and regular pruning.

• Water to maintain soil moisture. Your Irish yew tree will require regular watering to moisten the soil, especially when the plant is young or if you have transplanted it. Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot.
• Mulch the area. Add a layer of mulch around the tree’s base, which will help the soil retain moisture.
• Prune the yew regularly. Pruning your Irish yew tree will ensure healthy and rapid growth. Try to prune your tree at least once a year, ideally in the spring.
• Provide plenty of sunlight. Yew trees grow best with plenty of direct sunlight, although they will tolerate a few hours of shade.

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