Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Taxus brevifolia
Taxus brevifolia Nutt.
Pacific Yew, Western Yew
Taxaceae (Yew Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: TABR2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
Pacific Yew or Western Yew is a 15-50 ft., sometimes taller, evergreen shrub or small tree with red-brown, scaly bark; horizontal, drooping branches and deep, yellow-green foliage in flat sprays. Poisonous, nonresinous, evergreen tree with angled trunk often twisted or irregular and with broad crown of slender, horizontal branches; sometimes shrubby.
The strong wood has been used for archery bows, poles, canoe paddles, and small cabinetwork; however, the limited supply and small dimensions restrict use. While most parts of yew plants, are deadly poisonous, the red, juicy cup around the seed is reported to be edible, provided the poisonous seed is not chewed or swallowed. Birds eat these cups and scatter the seeds.
From the Image Gallery
No images of this plant
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: Up to about 80 feet tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Gray-Green
Fruit: Brown
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Jun , Jul
Bloom Notes: Flowers inconspicuous. Pollen cones yellowish.
Distribution
USA: AK , CA , ID , MT , NV , OR , WACanada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: Extreme s.e. AK to c. CA & n.w. MT; historically in NV
Native Habitat: Damp, partly shady, mt. ravines below 7000 ft.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Benefit
Use Food: EDIBLE PARTS: The red arils, in small amounts, are edible. The green seed is toxic. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)Use Medicinal: Taxol (terpenoid) comes from the bark and is used to treat breast and ovarian cancer. Inhibits mitosis.
Warning: Bark, leaves, seed pit (red, fleshy surrounding part, called the aril, is OK to eat). Highly Toxic! May be Fatal if Eaten! Symptoms include nervousness, trembling, slow pulse, pupil dilation, difficult breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, convulsions; may be fatal. Toxic Principle: Alkaloid taxine. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Attracts: Birds
Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU | FACU | FACU |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Bibliography
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.Bibref 663 - Poisonous Plants of North Carolina (1994) Vondracek, W. ; L. Van Asch
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1991 VOL. 8, NO.4 - A National Environmental Research Plan, Director's Report, Discover the Secrets ...Additional resources
USDA: Find Taxus brevifolia in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Taxus brevifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Taxus brevifolia
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-23Research By: TWC Staff