Cephalotaxus fortunei
Chinese Plum Yew
Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Cephalotaxus fortunei.
Plant photos
2 photos · Select to enlarge
The growth habit of Cephalotaxus fortunei.
Chiswick Chap / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo details
Resized and converted to WebP. No content edits.
Source: File:Chinese plum yew - tree in Kew Gardens.jpg
Reviewed . Source identification, photograph and license reviewed. The image illustrates the named plant; it does not verify dimensions or other plant traits.
Seeds with fleshy coverings on Cephalotaxus fortunei.
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo details
Resized and converted to WebP. No content edits.
Source: File:Cephalotaxus fortunei Głowocis Fortune'a 2019-10-26 01.jpg
Reviewed . Source identification, photograph and license reviewed. The image illustrates the named plant; it does not verify dimensions or other plant traits.
Common names
15 names · 11 languagesOther languages (10)
Sources & name notes (1)
Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.
Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.
Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.
Source records
- Chinese Plum-yew — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- Chinese cowtail pine — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- hlavotis Fortuneův — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- トウイヌガヤ — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- 三尖杉 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- 绿背三尖杉 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- 緑背三尖杉 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- Fortunes Kopfeibe — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- Головчатотисс Форчуна — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- głowocis chiński — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- Zachte knoptaxus — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
- patis Fortuneov — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 136135; Cephalotaxus fortunei.
General information
Kew's family placement for the genus Cephalotaxus (WCVP v16).
Sources [1]Plant characteristics
Growing conditions
Moist
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Shade, Partial shade
Uses
Fruit, Seed
Hedge, Ground cover
Description
Fruit: this fruit is quite large, about 30mm x 15mm. There are not many details available, but it strongly resembles the fruit of the C. harringtonia plant, which can be eaten raw when ripe. In Great Britain, the fruit does not always fully ripen, and when it reaches full ripeness, it has an unpleasant, resinous taste that lingers in the mouth. It is possible that the seeds of this plant species are also edible.
Harvest
Sources and references
References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.
-
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
Relevant sections
- Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1219129; name ID 382721; Cephalotaxus Siebold & Zucc. ex Endl.. Family column.
- Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1219136; name ID 382734; Cephalotaxus fortunei Hook..
Source checked on .
Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.
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Catalogue of Life
Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Cephalotaxus fortunei
Taxonomic data from WFO Pinopsida, version 2026-06 01, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.
Supports: TaxonomyRelevant sections
- Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2019220, ID 69JRD: Cephalotaxus fortunei Hook. (accepted).
Source checked on .