Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia) stands out with its upright, full-bodied form and gracefully arching branches. Its dark green, finely textured needles bring structure and elegance to gardens needing a dependable, shade-tolerant evergreen. This conifer tolerates summer heat and humidity better than many other yews, making it a top choice for southern climates. Expect this handsome plant to reach about 6 to 10 feet in height and breadth, fitting nicely as an accent, hedge, or privacy screen. Its low-maintenance nature and versatile appearance easily solve landscape challenges where other yews might struggle.
Carrying a reputation for toughness, Japanese Plum Yew thrives on well-drained soils yet adapts to clay and sandy spots. Its needle-like foliage remains consistently attractive, providing year-round interest without fuss. Native to parts of Asia, Japanese Plum Yew can handle sun or shade but truly shines in partial to full shade, making it an ideal pick for the understory. Deer typically bypass the bitter-tasting foliage, adding extra protection for your garden. If you’re aiming for a reliable evergreen to create a calm green backdrop, shape a neat hedge, or fill mass plantings, Japanese Plum Yew will capably deliver.
Japanese Plum Yew Care
Japanese Plum Yew grows best in evenly moist, well-drained soils; however, it tolerates drier ground once established. Water young shrubs regularly during the first season to develop a strong root network, then scale back as necessary. A layer of mulch helps soil retain moisture and guards against temperature fluctuations. Balanced fertilizer in spring encourages robust growth, while average garden soil pH suits this flexible yew. Select a planting site with partial to deeper shade in regions with hot summers, although full sun is acceptable in cooler areas.
If you wish to maintain a particular size or shape, prune your Japanese Plum Yew in early spring. Shear lightly or pinch back new growth to keep a tidier silhouette, or remove stray or damaged branches by thinning. Extra pinching or a light trim during the growing season may help preserve a uniform look. If grown in containers, monitor soil moisture and fertility more closely, and move the pot to a protected area in the winter.
Japanese Plum Yew Spacing
Allow roughly 5-6 feet between shrubs if you’d like a dense hedge—slightly more space if using this evergreen as a border accent or screen. In containers, choose a pot about two inches wider than the current root ball to leave ample room for root growth without risking waterlogged soil.
- SKU:
- 1231010098-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations