Description
Taxus baccata 'Dovastonii Aurea' Specimen | Dovaston’s golden yew
Dovaston’s golden yew specimen is a distinctive garden feature, with an outline that is different from a typical upright tree form. This is Taxus baccata 'Dovastonii Aurea', an evergreen conifer with a broad, spreading and overhanging habit. Its shape gives the individual plant a clear presence, so it can be appreciated as a feature in a garden where its outline has room to be seen. The foliage is made up of needles in green and yellow tones, with striking golden-yellow colouring that brings lasting colour to the garden. It keeps its foliage throughout the year, rather than losing it in autumn. At maturity, it reaches approximately 4 m tall; no mature width is specified. This is a specimen of the ‘Dovastonii Aurea’ cultivar, but that does not mean every plant of the cultivar is supplied in the same form. The plant is fruit-bearing, though the product information does not give further details about its fruit. Taxus is the genus name; this specimen’s character comes from the cultivar’s golden foliage and the supplied plant’s spreading, overhanging silhouette.
Key features of Dovaston’s golden yew (Taxus baccata 'Dovastonii Aurea')
- Foliage and form: The specimen has evergreen needle foliage in green and yellow tones, with notable golden-yellow colour. Its broad, spreading, overhanging outline gives this individual plant a distinctive shape. At maturity, the supplied height is approximately 4 m.
- Flowers and growth: Small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers appear in March and April, but flowering is not a principal ornamental feature. The plant is slow-growing. Its year-round garden interest comes chiefly from its evergreen foliage and specimen form.
- Aspect and soil: It can grow in sun, partial shade or shade, offering flexibility when choosing a position. It prefers well-drained, humus-rich soil that contains lime. Good drainage is important; this soil preference does not mean that every UK garden soil is suitable.
- Safety: All parts of this yew are poisonous. Do not treat its fruit or any other part as edible. This is a relevant consideration when deciding whether the plant is appropriate for a garden.
- Plant group: As a conifer, it may be of interest to gardeners looking at shade conifers. Its ability to tolerate shade is one of the supplied characteristics, alongside its suitability for sun and partial shade.
Uses of Dovaston’s golden yew specimen in the garden
- Feature planting: The specimen is suited to a focal role in a park or large garden, where its broad, overhanging outline can be appreciated. Its shape gives the individual plant a clear visual presence. The supplied mature height is approximately 4 m; no exact mature width is provided.
- Year-round interest: Evergreen green-and-golden foliage keeps the plant’s colour in view throughout the year. The spreading form adds a distinct outline to that foliage. Together, these features give the specimen a role as a garden feature in more than one season.
- Position and hardiness: The plant tolerates shade as well as partial shade and sun, giving some choice when considering a position. The supplied hardiness information is −23.3°C to −28.9°C and USDA zone 5. This figure does not guarantee performance in every UK garden or microclimate.
- Growth and safety: Its slow growth is useful to consider when judging its place in a large garden or park. All parts are poisonous, so the plant’s safety information should also form part of the decision about where it is used. No specific companion plants are identified.
With its evergreen golden foliage and broad, overhanging outline, Dovaston’s golden yew specimen can provide a distinctive focal point in a large garden or park.
