Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’)
Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’) is a conifer that can grow 8m – 15m tall and 3m – 8m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’).
This plant has several common names including: Irish yew, blue John, court yew or Florence Court yew.
This is a evergreen plant that takes 20-50 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: Irish yew, blue John, court yew, Florence Court yew
Scientific name: Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’
Plant type: Conifers, Shrubs
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: 8m – 15m
Spread: 3m – 8m
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full shade, Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Architectural
Planting type: Hedging & Screens, Low Maintenance
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’) – Andrew Gray, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Other types of Taxus to consider:
See all Taxus
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.
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The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.
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Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ likes to grow in well drained soil.
Sunlight
Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’) grows well in full sun, although it can also be grown in shady places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’) – Wilhelm Zimmerling PAR, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
