Description
Taxus cuspidata 'Nana' Shrub | Japanese yew
A Japanese yew shrub is a compact evergreen choice for gardeners looking for a dense outline that spreads at shrub level. Supplied as the ‘Nana’ cultivar of Taxus cuspidata, it grows slowly and has a bushy, spreading habit rather than the form of a tree. Its dark green foliage stays on the plant throughout the year, giving the shrub a consistent presence in the garden. It reaches an average mature height of about 150 cm; no reliable mature width is available. The plant is listed as suitable for sun, partial shade and shade, so it can be considered for different positions, provided the soil is well drained, humus-rich and lightly moist. It also bears fruit, but no further detail about the fruit is specified. All parts of the plant are poisonous, so do not allow any part to be ingested. This cultivar belongs to the Taxus genus. Its slow growth and compact, spreading form make it distinct from a tree-form yew, while its evergreen foliage can provide lasting structure in a planting scheme.
Key features of Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata 'Nana') as a shrub
- This shrub has a compact, bushy and spreading outline, with an average mature height of about 150 cm. Its slow growth helps maintain a measured presence in a planting scheme. No mature width is specified.
- The foliage is dark green and evergreen, so it remains part of the garden through the year. Yellow-green flowers appear in March and April, but flowering is not noted as a prominent ornamental feature.
- Choose a position in sun, partial shade or shade. The stated soil preference is humus-rich, well drained and lightly moist, conditions that are useful to consider in the UK’s often wet climate.
Uses of the Japanese yew shrub in the garden
- The product data lists this shrub for use as a specimen, in group planting or in beds. Its compact, bushy, spreading outline gives these planting positions an evergreen presence at shrub level.
- It may also be considered for hedging or a container, depending on the needs of the particular garden setting. The same slow-growing, spreading habit remains central to how it will look in these uses.
- The plant is listed as hardy to approximately -23°C to -29°C, equivalent to USDA zone 4. This is a guide rather than a promise of identical performance in every UK garden or microclimate.
For a planting scheme, consider combining it with other plants suited to the same light conditions and to well-drained, lightly moist soil. Its dark green evergreen foliage and spreading outline can provide year-round structure in a bed, group or specimen position. All parts of the plant are poisonous, so keep this in mind when choosing where it will grow. For more options with persistent foliage, explore our evergreen shrubs. In a UK garden, this Japanese yew shrub can offer a compact, evergreen outline where the position and soil suit its listed growing conditions.
