Captain™ Yew

Captain™ Yew, Taxus cuspidata Captain™️ ‘Fastigiata’, is a lush, fast-growing, finely textured, upright Japanese Yew that has a stately pyramidal form. The new growth is emerald green, nicely complementing the rich darker green, soft needles. This evergreen shrub works beautifully as a densely shaped hedge, encouraging both privacy and noise reduction. 

This dependable multi-branched evergreen grows in Hardiness Zones 4-9, reaching heights of 10-15 ft with a 9-12-ft spread. Captain™ Yew will fill out quickly and naturally develop a pyramidal form, or it readily tolerates shaping into topiaries. Showy red berries appear in fall if a male yew is close by to pollinate–a variety of birds enjoy snacking on them. 

Captain™ Yew Care

Captain™ Yew is one of the few evergreens that tolerates full sun to shade. They do require well-draining soil that is evenly moist and will become more drought tolerant and cold hardy once mature. Avoid planting Captain™ Yew in areas that have standing water or soggy soils.

Sheer, shape or leave Captain™ Yew to grow in its pyramidal shape with just a light trimming in early spring to encourage full growth. Mulch the roots to insulate them and help maintain soil moisture. If located in a colder climate or an area with high winds, adding some winter protection will help avoid burned tips. The berry seed cones can be toxic to pets and children if ingested, so be sure to plant Captain™ Yew in an area where they cannot access them. 

Captain™ Yew Spacing

Depending on the application, whether planted as a single specimen or en masse as a lush hedge, space Captain™ Yew according to its eventual mature width of 9-12 ft. This attractive, upright yew will fill out quickly.