Description
Taxus baccata 'Summergold' shrub 20-30 cm C1 | Golden Irish yew
The Golden Irish yew shrub is Taxus baccata 'Summergold', supplied in a compact, upright and spreading shrub form. Its shape gives it a defined presence without the narrow, columnar look of other yew forms. The evergreen foliage combines golden-yellow and green tones, bringing colour to the garden throughout the year. At maturity, this shrub reaches approximately 150 cm in height; no mature width is specified. 'Summergold' is the cultivar name. Small yellow-green flowers appear in March and April, but flowering is not a prominent ornamental feature. The plant is fruit-bearing, and all parts are poisonous, so it should be kept away from any possibility of being mistaken as safe to eat. This golden-leaved yew can suit gardens where an evergreen shrub is wanted for colour as well as shape. Its appearance and uses depend on the shrub form supplied here, rather than on other forms of Taxus. For more plants in the same genus, see Taxus.
Key features of Golden Irish yew (Taxus baccata 'Summergold') as a shrub
- Evergreen colour: The foliage stays on the plant and has yellow, golden-yellow and green tones. This mix gives the shrub a lasting colour accent, rather than a display that depends on flowers.
- Flowers: Yellow-green flowers appear in March and April. They are inconspicuous, so the main ornamental interest is the evergreen foliage and the compact, upright, spreading shape.
- Aspect: This yew shrub can be grown in sun, partial shade or shade. These options make it worth considering for different parts of a UK garden, while the final choice should also take soil drainage into account.
- Soil and drainage: It prefers humus-rich, calcareous soil that is well drained and slightly moist. Avoid wet, poorly drained ground, as the plant is sensitive to these conditions. Good drainage is particularly important where soil stays wet.
- Size and form: The supplied shrub has a compact, upright and spreading habit, with an approximate mature height of 150 cm. No mature width or growth rate is specified. It is suitable for trimming.
- Safety and garden choice: All parts of the plant are poisonous. This is an important point to consider when choosing a position in a garden. Its evergreen character also makes it a suitable option to consider among evergreen shrubs.
Uses of the Golden Irish yew shrub in the garden
- Specimen planting: Use the shrub as a single feature where its golden-yellow and green foliage can be seen clearly. Its compact, upright, spreading habit gives it a distinct outline, while its evergreen foliage keeps that colour present through the year.
- Borders and pots: In a border, this golden yew shrub can add evergreen colour and a defined shape among other plants. The product data also lists it as suitable for a pot, offering an option where a shrub is wanted in a container.
- Low hedging: The shrub form is suitable for use as a low hedge. Its approximate mature height of 150 cm helps set expectations for its scale, but no mature width is supplied. It is offered as an individual shrub, not as a pre-formed hedge.
- Grouped planting: Several plants can be used in mass planting to repeat the golden foliage and create a consistent evergreen feature. The spreading habit contributes to the overall outline of the group; no specific spacing or planting scheme is supplied.
- Hardiness: Product data gives a hardiness range of -23.3°C to -17.8°C, equivalent to USDA zone 6. This is a guide, not a guarantee of performance in every UK garden or local setting.
- Colour combinations: Its golden evergreen foliage can be paired with plants that have contrasting foliage colours. No particular companion plants are specified, so choose combinations according to the effect wanted in the border or container.
As a specimen, border shrub, low hedge or pot plant, this Golden Irish yew offers an evergreen colour accent with a compact, upright, spreading form. Choose a suitable aspect and well-drained soil, and bear in mind that all parts are poisonous.
