See something we could improve on this page? Give website feedback.
Label:
Information
A rarity in the city, the Pacific yew is a fascinating tree with a rich cultural and medicinal history. Its distinctive red berries make this a stand-out in the landscape. Read on to learn more about the Pacific yew.
Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia)
Distribution
The Pacific yew is found in the Pacific Northwest from British Columbia to Northern California, predominantly in the Pacific Coast range. It is usually an understory tree, but if it has access to a water source like a stream or gully, it will tolerate sun. As a shade tolerant understory plant, it can be a good option for tricky planting spaces.
Needles, Bark, Fruit
Needles are relatively small—only 1-3 centimeters long. Each needle ends in a point. The needles grow in a spiral, but, because they continue to twist as they grow, they lay flat on either side of the stem, making two straight lines. The needles resemble those of the coastal redwood, but the smaller size of the tree and other factors make the two easily distinguishable.
The peel-prone bark can become a rich, dark red. The bark peels back in different shapes and sizes, giving each tree trunk a unique look. The branches are often droopy, perhaps because they are often covered in shade loving mosses.
Unlike other conifers, the Pacific yew does not make cones, but produces a fruit called an aril. Each juicy, red covering surrounds a single seed. Seeds are poisonous to humans, dogs, and horses but are a favorite among many bird species. Deer also seem to enjoy the bright red berries.
Indigenous Peoples and Pacific Yew
Pacific yew was and still is highly prized for its hard, rot-resistant wood. It is used for countless tools and devices and is especially prized as a superior bow-making wood. The name of the Pacific yew in the Haida language translates as "bow plant." Many tribes use the yew as medicinal aid or to impart strength. The Chehalis, for example, use the crushed leaves in an ill child's or elder's hot bath. The Cowlitz apply ground and moistened leaves to wounds.
Interestingly, conventional medicine has found a use for the yew tree as well. The bark and leaves were found to contain a powerful anti-cancer agent. Ironically, this became a cause for some concern as yew trees began to be harvested unchecked. Luckily, a synthetic alternative was created, and yews could go back to being prized for their beauty and traditional cultural uses.
Pacific Yews in Portland
Taxus brevifolia | Landscape Plants | Oregon State University
Pacific yews are few and far between in Portland. There are no current Pacific yew Heritage Trees.
There are several nice Pacific yews in Laurelhurst Park, off of SE Oak St. At Hoyt Arboretum, you can find a grove of Pacific yews under towering Douglas firs.
If you know of an exceptional Pacific yew or other outstanding tree, consider nominating it for Urban Forestry's Heritage Tree program. By designating your tree a Heritage Tree, it will be protected for years to come.
Caring for Pacific Yew
Pacific yews are extremely slow growing. The Pacific yew relies on a good water source. If this requirement is met, it will happily grow in sun or shade. Like most trees, the yew requires good drainage.
Once established, your yew will tolerate short periods of drought. The yew is also quite forgiving of soil types as long as drainage is adequate. For more information on how to care for a new tree, see Urban Forestry's establishment care guide.
Problems and Pests: Root rot may be a problem if good drainage is not provided. The Pacific yew isn't overly susceptible to pests, but scale and mites can sometimes be an issue.
Use Oregon State University's plant disease and insect management handbooks to diagnose potential problems with your Pacific yew.
- Host and Disease Descriptions | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks
- Insect crop pests | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks
For More Information
- Taxus brevifolia (Pacific yew) description (conifers.org)
- Pacific yew (oregonencyclopedia.org)
- Taxus brevifolia - Wikipedia
- Taxus brevifolia | Landscape Plants | Oregon State University
- Pojar, Jim and Andy MacKinnon, Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast (Revised), 2004, Lone Pine Press.