Taxus baccata - Bowl Shape Yew

The Taxus baccata is our common yew tree, well known for its dark green evergreen foliage, small orange to red fruits, and highly sought-after hard wood. Slow-growing, it is one of the top species for topiary art, of which this ball shape is a good example. Its fine and dense foliage, tolerant to pruning, allows for the creation of distinctive scenes in the garden. Planted in the ground, accompanied by other topiaries, or in a square wooden or metal container, to provide permanent decoration on a terrace or on either side of an entrance, this conifer will bring character to your environment. Easy to grow, it adapts to many living conditions. 

Very present in the oldest gardens and parks in Europe, Taxus baccata sometimes watches over us for hundreds of years. Its longevity is indeed remarkable and can reach several centuries. The species, which has become rare in the wild, is native to Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. In France, it is still found in the plains of Brittany, Normandy, and the Vosges, in low and medium mountains, in the south and in Corsica. Some populations also survive in the limestone massifs of Provence, on the northern slopes of the Sainte Baume and the Sainte Victoire near Aix-en-Provence. Some individuals growing in the Verdon Gorge are said to be over a thousand years old. Impressive specimens can also be admired in old gardens or cemeteries, near churches for symbolic reasons (considered as a link between heaven and earth), but also to prevent herds from consuming them. The needles, bark, and fruits are indeed 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, with only 15 to 20 species.

When shaped into a sphere, the foliage of this yew tree will be particularly highlighted. Its branchlets are covered with flattened, pointed needles, but very soft to the touch. Their color, a shiny dark green, is lighter on the underside. The leaves are small (2-3 mm (1in) x 2-3 cm (1in)) and persist on the plant for several years before renewing. It is a dioecious species: individuals bear either male or female flowers. Thus, the red berries appear after discreet flowering (but appreciated by bees, as the species is nectar-producing) only on female plants. Be careful, while the aril (the brightly colored fleshy part) is not toxic, the seeds are highly toxic!

If this specimen is grown in a container, regular watering will be necessary as it will not have access to soil moisture reserves. Its maintenance requires two annual prunings, in April and on the regrowth in September. It is ideal to use sharp shears rather than hedge trimmers. The cuts will be cleaner, without the risk of damaging the foliage, and above all, it is easier to take one's time to perfect the work!

This yew topiary will be most valuable in a highly structured garden, with geometric shapes. French gardens immediately come to mind, but a contemporary space will also benefit from its presence, as well as Mediterranean gardens. In the latter, there will be plenty of choices for complementary plants to create graphic scenes by playing with shapes, colors, and even scents. The Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum' with its slow growth in a natural cushion shape and its beautiful bright green leaves or the woody germander with its aromatic grayish foliage will be excellent neighbors in a flowerbed.

In small spaces that do not allow for entire beds of topiaries, this yew tree can be planted alongside plants with complementary appearances. For example, a beautiful golden creeping barberry will bring light and a graceful form that will create surprise at the base of this dark green ball. A black elderberry 'Black Tower' will play the same role with a welcome contrast of form and color.