Plant Details

Taxus baccata

Yew, English yew, Common Yew

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Common names

59 names · 37 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Common Yew[1]
  • English yew[1]
  • European yew[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Irish yew[1]
  • Yew
Other languages (36)
Dutch
  • Gewone taxus
  • Gewone venijnboom
  • Taxus[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Venijnboom[1]
French
Afrikaans
  • gewone taksisboom[1]
Armenian
  • Կենի հատապտղային[1]
Asturian
Basque
Bulgarian
  • Обикновен тис[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧洲红豆杉[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 歐洲紅豆杉[1]
  • 歐洲紫杉[1]
Croatian
Czech
  • tis červený[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik jugapuu[1]
Finnish
  • euroopanmarjakuusi[1]
German
+8 more namesShow fewer names
Hungarian
  • Közönséges tiszafa[1]
Irish
Italian
Japanese
  • セイヨウイチイ[1]
  • ヨーロッパイチイ[1]
Korean
  • 황금주목[1]
Latvian
  • Parastā īve[1]
Lithuanian
  • Europinis kukmedis[1]
Norwegian
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Тис ягодный[1]
Serbian
Slovak
  • tis obyčajný[1]
Slovenian
Spanish
  • tejo negro[1]
Swedish
Thai
  • ยูยุโรป[1]
Turkish
  • Porsuk Ağacı[1]
Ukrainian
  • Тис ягідний[1]
Welsh
  • Ywen Gyffredin[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] Taxus baccata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • common yew — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • cis — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • teix — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • European yew — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • teixo — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Irish yew — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • if commun — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Tasso — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • English yew — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • sis — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • tejo negro — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • harilik jugapuu — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • tis červený — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • 歐洲紫杉 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Idegran — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Taks — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Taxus — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • barlind — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Тис ягодный — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • euroopanmarjakuusi — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Tisa — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Europinis kukmedis — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • teixu — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • ヨーロッパイチイ — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • ยูยุโรป — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • 황금주목 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • tis obyčajný — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Կենի հատապտղային — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • セイヨウイチイ — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • 欧洲红豆杉 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Тис ягідний — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Обикновен тис — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • tisa — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Тиса — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Navadna tisa — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Porsuk Ağacı — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Közönséges tiszafa — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Parastā īve — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Tisă — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Iúr — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Ywen Gyffredin — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • 歐洲紅豆杉 — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Venijnboom — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Hagina — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Europäische Eibe — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • gewone taksisboom — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Gemeine Eibe — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Eibe — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Bogenbaum — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Eue — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Eve — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Ibe — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • If — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Ifen — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Iwe — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.
  • Ife — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 47553; Taxus baccata.

General information

Scientific name: Taxus baccata
Accepted name (Kew): Taxus baccata L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [3]
Botanical family: Taxaceae

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

Sources [3]
Also known as: Yew, English yew, Common Yew
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 9.14–18.29 m

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

Sources [1]
Spread: 4.57–7.62 m

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

Sources [1]
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Conical, Pyramidal

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

Sources [1]

Growing conditions

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

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

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [1]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [1]
pH:
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [1]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [1]

Uses

Functions:
Hedge, Wood, Insecticide

Description

Taxus baccata is an evergreen tree or large shrub. Female plants bear seeds surrounded by fleshy red arils. The seeds and vegetative parts are poisonous; ingestion can cause severe, potentially fatal poisoning. The fleshy aril must not be confused with the toxic seed it surrounds.

Sources [1] [2]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 31/03

Crown

Crown shape: Narrow pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Taxus baccata (Common Yew, English Yew, European Yew) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionHeightSpreadFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    • 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 .

  2. Royal Horticultural Society Taxus baccata | common yew
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Foliage; Cultivation; Potentially harmful, where applicable

    Source checked on .

  3. 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 1216647; name ID 379359; Taxus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1215602; name ID 378626; Taxus baccata L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.