Japanese Plum Yew, Harrington Plum Yew, Cow-Tail Pine

A handsome evergreen shrub/small tree that looks much like a yew (Taxus). It is dramatically more heat tolerant than yew, and a good subs...Read Moretitute for it in the eastern US south of Z7b, where yews languish. It has a graceful natural habit, but it's also amenable to being pruned or sheared for formal hedges. It grows very slowly.

This is also a good substitute for yew in the north (to Z6a/5b) where deer browsing is a problem---unlike yews, plum-yews are virtually deer-proof.

There are many different forms and cultivars, some rigidly upright, some wide-spreading groundcovers, some shrubs reaching 5-10', a few as much as 25' tall.

Both "fruit" and seeds are edible and traditionally eaten in Japan. You need both a female plant and a male to get fruit set. Wind-pollinated.

In the south, this performs better in shade.

For more info: [HYPERLINK@aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu]

This plant grows at the Jacksonville (Florida) Zoo & Gardens (borderline Zone 8b/9a). It's zig-zag sharp edged foliage reminds me very m...Read Moreuch of the rediscovered Australian Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis)

It is apparently very slow growing. In the zoo gardens, it is not much more than about 15 inches high after several years.

Jeremy

I've seen this plant growing in a coastal garden,Zone 10. The owner said it was unaffected by the conditions. It was very slow growing, a...Read Morebout 3ft in 8 years and was impressive rather than attractive,it looked a very dark green with a very rigid and spiky growth habit.