American Yew

Fair Food and Good Cover 

American (Canada) Yew – Taxus canadensis 

Form

Low straggling shrub often having widespread horizontal limbs, to 5 feet tall. 

Leaves

Evergreen, needles are green above and below, about 1 inch long, sharp pointed and stalked with a base that continues down the side of the smooth twig. 

Fruit

The berrylike fruit is an aril which is a juicy, scarlet red fleshy cuplike dish surrounding a single seed which poisonous. 

WV Range

Scattered in northern and high mountain counties of Fayette, Greenbrier, Hancock, Marion , Mercer, Mineral, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston , Randolph , Summers, Taylor , Tucker and Wetzel. 

Natural Habitat

Cold, shady woods at high elevations or low elevations in deep cold ravines. 

Wildlife Uses

Deer will browse yew to the point of destroying the shrubs. Rabbits also browse yew. The fruits are eaten by grouse, cedar waxwings, robins, bluejays and squirrels. The dense evergreen foliage provides excellent shelter and nest sites for rodents, chipmunks, and ground dwelling songbirds. 

Horticulture

Uses: Foundation plantings or ground cover for northern exposures, shady moist ravines or wet areas. 
Light: Heavy to partial shade. Soil Moisture: Wet to moist loamy soils. Soil pH: Slightly acid to slightly alkaline. Problems: Seeds and wilted foliage poisonous to livestock. Red fruits contain poisonous seeds and are attractive to children.