Plant Details

Cephalotaxus harringtonia

Japanese Plum Yew

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Cephalotaxus harringtonia.

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Common names

25 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
  • cowtail pine[1]
  • Japanese Plum Yew
  • Japanese Plum-yew[1]
Other languages (15)
Dutch
  • Japanse knoptaxus[1]
  • Knoptaxus[1]
French
  • Céphalotaxus d'Harrington[1]
  • If du Japon
  • Pin à queue de vache[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 日本粗榧[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 柱冠粗榧[1]
Czech
  • hlavotis peckovicový[1]
Finnish
  • japaninrypälekuusi[1]
German
  • Chinesische Kopfeibe[1]
  • Japanische Kopfeibe[1]
  • Japanische Pflaumeneibe[1]
Italian
  • Cefalotasso di Harrington[1]
Japanese
  • イヌガヤ[1]
  • チョウセンマキ[1]
Korean
  • 개비자나무[1]
  • 개비자나무속[1]
Polish
  • głowocis japoński[1]
Russian
  • Головчатотисс Харрингтона[1]
Slovak
  • patis Harringtonov[1]
Spanish
  • cefalotaxo drupáceo[1]
Turkish
  • Japon Yalancı Porsuğu[1]
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.

[1] Cephalotaxus harringtonia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese Plum-yew — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • イヌガヤ — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • cowtail pine — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • hlavotis peckovicový — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • 개비자나무 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • チョウセンマキ — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • Головчатотисс Харрингтона — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • 日本粗榧 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • 柱冠粗榧 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • 개비자나무속 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • Japanische Kopfeibe — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • Japanische Pflaumeneibe — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • głowocis japoński — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • Knoptaxus — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • Cefalotasso di Harrington — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • Japanse knoptaxus — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • Céphalotaxus d'Harrington — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • Pin à queue de vache — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • japaninrypälekuusi — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • patis Harringtonov — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • Chinesische Kopfeibe — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • Japon Yalancı Porsuğu — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.
  • cefalotaxo drupáceo — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 142793; Cephalotaxus harringtonia.

General information

Scientific name: Cephalotaxus harringtonia
Accepted name (Kew): Cephalotaxus harringtonia (Knight ex J.Forbes) K.Koch View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Cephalotaxaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Cephalotaxus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Japanese Plum Yew
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.52–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 1.52–4.27 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Slow
Sources [2]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Arching

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Very Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, Sand
Sources [2]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Deep shade, Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Oil, Seed
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Hedge, Oil

Description

Fruit: raw or cooked. The fruits are approximately 2-3 cm long. It is generally said that the fruits of this plant are astringent and even completely ripe inedible. However, some subspecies produce delicious sweet fruits. See the cultivation information for more details. Seeds: raw or cooked. The seeds are oily and have a slightly resinous taste, with a length of up to 15 mm.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    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 1219163; name ID 382742; Cephalotaxus harringtonia (Knight ex J.Forbes) K.Koch.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Cephalotaxus harringtonia — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 14 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .