1. BOTANICAL NAME
TAXUS CUSPIDATA

2. PRONUNCIATION
TACKS - us

3. COMMON NAME
Japanese Yew

5. FAMILY
Taxaceae

6. Life Cycle
Evergreen perennial

7. Growth Habit
Shrub
Height 4’ - 6”
Width 3’ - 4’
Upright

8. ARRANGEMENT and composition
Needles - one per fascicle
Simple

9. LEAF
Acicular (needle-like)
Length 1”
Width 1/8”

10. MARGIN
Entire

11. VEINS
Parallel

14. FLOWER
Spring
Inconspicuous

15. FRUIT
Fall (September)
Bell shaped scarlet aril
Poisonous

16. EXPOSURE
Part shade
Shade

17. USE
Hedge
Foundation
(Pharmaceutical - Taxal found in this bark was used to cure ovarian cancer)

19. DESCRIPTION Leaves are needles Mostly but not distinctly 2-ranked
Upright and irregular v-shaped straight or slightly curved

20. DESCRIPTION Slightly leathery
Apex rather sharp pointed, dull to dark lustrous green above, pale beneath with 2 yellowish green bands

22. DESCRIPTION
Fruit is very poisonous
Dioecious

23. CULTURAL PRACTICES
Must be in well drained soil
No wet feet

24. ZONES
4 - 7

25. NATIVE OF:
Japan, Korea