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shrub

Duke Gardens Plum Yew

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Duke Gardens'

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Duke Gardens Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Duke Gardens') at Kennedy's Country Gardens

Duke Gardens Plum Yew

Duke Gardens Plum Yew

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Duke Gardens Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Duke Gardens') at Kennedy's Country Gardens

Duke Gardens Plum Yew foliage

Duke Gardens Plum Yew foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  5 feet

Spread:  5 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  5b

Other Names:  Cow's Tail Pine

Description:

A very useful landscape shrub that is very heat tolerant, more interesting than most junipers, will take more shade than almost any needled evergreen; tolerates severe pruning and makes a great hedge in a shady area; good for foundation planting

Ornamental Features

Duke Gardens Plum Yew has attractive dark green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The needles are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Duke Gardens Plum Yew is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Duke Gardens Plum Yew is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Duke Gardens Plum Yew will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Massing  Screening  Garden 
Applications
Foliage Color  Texture  Winter Value 
Ornamental Features