Description
Taxus baccata 'Pirat' Shrub | Yew
Taxus baccata 'Pirat' shrub is an evergreen yew with dark green foliage and a distinct upright, narrow and compact shape. This plant is supplied in shrub form, giving it a defined outline in the garden rather than the appearance of a tree. At maturity, it reaches around 300 cm high; no mature width is specified. Its compact silhouette makes the shrub form easy to distinguish within a planting, while the evergreen foliage provides a consistent dark green presence through the year. The flowers are inconspicuous and yellow-green, appearing in March and April. This yew is also fruit-bearing, but all parts of the plant are poisonous except the red fleshy part surrounding the seed. Keep this toxicity in mind when considering where to place it, and do not treat any plant part as suitable for eating. The cultivar name is 'Pirat'. For other plants in the same genus, explore Taxus. As a shrub, this cultivar offers a clear, upright shape and evergreen foliage for gardens where a defined form is wanted.
Key features of yew (Taxus baccata 'Pirat') shrub
- Habit and growth: This shrub form has an upright, narrow and compact habit. Its slow growth means its defined outline develops gradually, rather than rapidly changing the shape of a planting.
- Foliage and flowers: The foliage is dark green and evergreen. Small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers appear in March and April, so the main stated ornamental features are the leaves and the shrub’s outline.
- Aspect: Choose a position in sun, partial shade or shade. Its tolerance of shade gives it several possible positions in a UK garden, while the final choice can reflect the structure you want it to provide.
- Soil and drainage: It prefers well-drained, humus-rich soil that contains lime. Good drainage is important, particularly in gardens that can be wet, so avoid assuming that its soil preference means it will suit waterlogged ground.
- Hardiness and care with toxicity: This is a slow-growing, hardy yew, with the stated hardiness range given below. All plant parts are poisonous except the red fleshy part surrounding the seed; do not regard any part as safe to eat.
- Evergreen planting: Its year-round dark foliage and compact form may suit planting schemes that need an evergreen element. Browse evergreen shrubs for other options in this category.
Uses of Taxus baccata 'Pirat' shrub in the garden
- As a hedge plant: The upright, narrow habit gives this shrub a defined profile for use as a hedge. Its evergreen foliage keeps that structure present through the year, while its slow growth is worth bearing in mind when choosing it for a hedge.
- As a specimen: Planted as a specimen, the shrub form can give a garden a distinct vertical feature. Its compact outline and dark green foliage provide the stated points of interest without relying on conspicuous flowers.
- In group planting: Several shrubs can be used together to create a repeated, upright and narrow form. This approach uses the specific silhouette of the supplied shrub form to bring definition to a group planting.
- For shade: Sun, partial shade and shade are all suitable aspects. This allows the yew to be considered for a shaded part of the garden as well as brighter positions, with the final placement guided by the layout.
- Hardiness: The stated hardiness range is approximately -23.3°C to -17.8°C, equivalent to USDA zone 6. Conditions can vary between UK gardens and microclimates, so this range should not be read as a guarantee of identical performance everywhere.
- Garden structure: Dark evergreen foliage, a slow rate of growth and an upright, narrow, compact outline are the key features for these uses. The shrub is suitable for shaping, which supports its stated roles as a hedge, specimen or group planting.
For a hedge, specimen or group planting, this evergreen shrub combines a defined, narrow shape with suitability for shade. Its dark green foliage gives these garden uses structure throughout the year.
