The European yew (Taxus baccata) is one of the oldest trees in Europe. Today the species is often planted in the garden as a topiary or hedge plant. Sometimes such shrubs and trees are also called conifers. Is the yew also included?
Is the yew a conifer?
The yew (Taxus baccata) is a conifer because it belongs to the plant order of naked-seeded, cone-bearing plants with needles or needle-like leaves. Yew trees produce hard cones that are surrounded by a fleshy covering and resemble berries.
What is a conifer?
Botanists refer to conifers as a plant order made up of naked-seeded and cone-bearing plants, which are mostly evergreen and have needles or needle-like leaves. Translated, the name “conifer” means nothing other than “cone bearer”, as it is made up of the Latin names “conus” for “cone” and “ferre” for “to carry”. Basically they are different genera and species of pine-like conifers such as
- Pine family (Pinaceae): various types of pines, spruces, firs, Douglas firs, cedars, larches
- Araucaria family: all araucarias such as the popular Chilean araucaria
- Cypress family: for example sequoia trees, various types of cypress and false cypress, bald cypresses, junipers, arborvitae (thuja) and sickle firs
- Umbrella firs
Many conifers are used as ornamental plants in gardens as well as houseplants.
Is the yew also a conifer?
The various species of yew - of which only the European yew (Taxus baccata) is native to Europe - also belong to the order of conifers. In addition to this, there are numerous other species of yew plants (Taxaceae) as well as yew and stone yew plants worldwide. Pollard yews are primarily native to Asia, while stone yews are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the southern hemisphere.
Some people will be surprised why the native yew is considered a cone-bearing tree. In fact, yew trees produce hard cones, which, however, are surrounded by a fleshy shell and are therefore very similar to a berry.
What distinguishes the yew from other conifers?
Since conifers are a botanical classification with numerous plant families and species, they naturally differ greatly from one another. The species have these characteristics in common:
- evergreen
- with needles, scales or needle-like leaves
- Formation of seed-containing cones
However, the yew differs from many other conifers used in the garden in these characteristics:
- highly toxic
- produces bright red fruits
- grows very slowly
- can get extremely old
- native species
In addition, the European yew is now one of the tree species threatened with extinction due to heavy deforestation measures in the Middle Ages and the early modern period.
Which conifers can you use instead of a yew?
Since the use of yews needs to be carefully considered due to their strong toxicity, these conifers are recommended instead:
- Tree of life or Thuja
- Cypress, e.g. B. Leyland cypress, mussel cypress
- Juniper, e.g. B. Creeping juniper, shrub juniper
- Hemlock
- Japanese larch, also suitable for hedges
- Mountain Pine
- Blue columnar cypress, false cypress suitable for hedges
The species mentioned represent only a small selection, as the species diversity in this group is very large.
Tip
Conifers break records
In addition, all record holders in the tree kingdom - for example when it comes to the oldest, largest, etc. trees - belong to the group of conifers. The oldest tree in the world, around 10,000 years old, is a spruce. The tallest tree in the world - at around 115 meters high, almost as high as Cologne Cathedral - is a coastal redwood.
