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Native Yew question

Johniferous (Zone 6B, Northern NJ)

10 years ago

I planted a native yew here in NJ (taxus canadensis?)
It seems to really like growing sideways....
I do not want to sheer it into a ridiculous square or circular shape. But I do want to take off horizontal growth and keep vertical growth to encourage a generally upright form.
Whats the deal with american yew? Will it always grow very horizontal or will I get vertical growth? The ones i see in the woods here sometimes even have a strong central leader and grow like vertical conifers. I can't pull one from the woods because its protected land.

Featured Answer

kentrees12

10 years ago

All the Taxus canadensis I've seen in the wild are wide spreading plants. Some individual stems may grow more upright, but the wild form doesn't commonly form a leader. There is a form called 'stricta' or 'pyramidalis', whether it is in commerce I don't know. They're devilish hard to collect, I've tried and failed.

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Comments (6)

Johniferous (Zone 6B, Northern NJ)
Original Author
10 years ago
It's weird, I swear they grow a central leader like a christmas tree around here. My neighbors all have them and I was told that they'd been here before the 1930s when the neighborhood was developed. And they're deep in the woods. Maybe since that variation is so rare I'd be better off harvesting one as a seedling so I don't anger any locals.
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Embothrium
10 years ago
Yews can be grown from cuttings.
kentrees12
10 years ago
Could you get a pic of the wild ones and also the ones that have been planted? I'm wondering if the ones in the woods are actually volunteers from planted taxus other than canadensis.
sam_md
10 years ago
what kentrees12 said
wisconsitom
10 years ago
+3-Canada yew is a wide spreader, not an upright plant.

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