Japanese Plum Yew

Japanese plum yew is the shade-tolerant evergreen conifer that most people mistake for a yew and undervalue accordingly. It grows to about thirty feet unpruned, with long, flat, dark green needles arranged in two ranks, similar to yew but larger and slightly more textured. The key differentiator is the fruit: fleshy, olive-shaped drupes about an inch long rather than the red berries of true yew. Five cultivars are in the regional trade: 'Fastigiata' for an upright, columnar form; 'Duke Gardens' for a low, spreading habit; 'Gold Splash' and 'Korean Gold' for chartreuse to gold new growth; and the species form for a larger, more open structure.

The reason Japanese plum yew matters in Western Washington is shade tolerance combined with deer resistance. Deer browse yew relentlessly; they largely leave plum yew alone. In the parts of the region where deer pressure makes evergreen foundation plantings an exercise in frustration, this distinction is the difference between a hedge and an expensive salad bar. Part shade is the ideal exposure. Eight diseases and thirteen pests are tracked, a significant list that reflects thorough surveying rather than a uniquely problematic species. In practice, well-sited specimens in good soil rarely show serious issues. If you need an evergreen for shade that deer will not eat, Japanese plum yew should be your first phone call.