Japanese Yew

Shade or partial shade. Evergreen. An architectural shrub or small tree with flat, needle-like dark green leaves and a fairly conical shape; many forms are available. Yew tolerates hedging and branches fairly low to the ground, making it useful for evergreen screens.

In its home range, Japanese yew prefers fertile, well-drained moist soil; in San Antonio plan on preparing the site accordingly. Beware of exposure to scorching afternoon summer sun, which desiccates the leaves. When used in the semi-shade around buildings and established live oaks, it can be long-lived in local landscapes.