Taxus baccata David - Yew

Taxus baccata 'David' is a variety of common yew with young golden foliage that is appreciated for its appearance of a small, narrow and bright column, perfectly suited for terraces and small gardens with a classical inspiration. This conifer, like all yews, has slow growth, requires little maintenance, and adapts to many growing conditions.

Very present in the oldest gardens and parks in Europe, Taxus baccata sometimes look down upon us for hundreds of years. Their longevity is indeed remarkable and they can live for several centuries. The species, which has become rare in nature, originated in Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. Impressive specimens can be admired in old gardens or cemeteries, planted near churches for symbolic reasons as yew is considered to be a link between heaven and earth. The needles, bark, and fruits are toxic to humans and animals, except for birds that consume the berries and discard the seeds. The common yew is a conifer of the Taxaceae family.

The 'David' cultivar sets itself apart with its small size, fastigiate and narrow habit, and bright yellow-green foliage. It has slow growth and will reach about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in height and 80 cm (31.5 in) in diameter at maturity. Its short and upright branches and trunk are covered with a reddish-brown bark that peels off. Its twigs are adorned with flat and shiny needles with two white bands on the underside, with a pointed tip that is nevertheless very soft to the touch. Its young shoots are golden, gradually turning yellow-green in summer. It adds a presence throughout the seasons and often forms the backbone of the garden. It is a dioecious tree: individuals bear male or female flowers. Thus, red berries appear after a discreet flowering only on female plants.

Taxus baccata 'David', naturally elegant like all yews, will find its place in all gardens, small and large, and will adapt to all garden styles: strict, whimsical, classical, contemporary, mineral, slightly mystical or poetic. And even more so as this yew is not only very hardy but also accepts any type of soil: ordinary, slightly acidic or calcareous, moist or dry. It can be a beautiful solitary specimen or be accompanied by low shrubs, or even creeping ones that are similarly undemanding (Cotoneaster, chamaecyparis, and small junipers, Coprosma, etc.). It can also, if one is patient, be planted as a hedge or in a row along a pathway with a row of boxwood or myrtle in mild climates. Pruning is not necessary or is limited to one intervention per year, and it will successfully regenerate after a more severe pruning by penetrating the old wood. Indifferent to exposure, it can even be planted in shade in warm climates. Finally, yew can successfully replace cypress, which has faster growth but is susceptible to diseases and not well-suited to pruning.