Taxus baccata 'Dovastonii Aurea'

Taxus baccata 'Dovastonii Aurea'

Description: A wide growing and golden form of our native evergreen Yew.  This form has horizontal growing branches which form an usually broad plant with long weeping branchlets. The leaves are rich green edged with yellow which give an overall appearance of golden colour.  A female form which produces red berries (arils to be correct) in autumn.

Uses: Will fill large spaces as a specimen or in a large border. 

Climate/Position: Any site in sun or shade

Height/Spread: 2 metres x 2.5 metres but can eventually reach up to 8 metres.

Soil Requirements: Most soils and is good on chalk soils.

Pruning: Yews respond well to pruning but for this cultivar try to maintain its shape if possible,

Special Requirements: The plant and the fruit are poisonous. (in fact the flesh of the fruit is not poisonous only the stone inside but still avoid eating!

Additional Interest: Yew are renowned for their historic value as long lived plants often associated with old churchyards.  More recently Taxus has become known as an ingredient for a drug used to fight cancer.