IT HAD TO BE YEW, WONDERFUL YEW

Written by Carolyngail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago All rights reserved

Taxus media 'densiforma '

The poor, much-maligned yew. Does my love and defense of them come from being the "underdog " or middle child? 

 The general public's dislike of yews no doubt comes from the overgrown, untended foundation shrubs that dot so many landscapes.  When I recommend them to shoppers at the garden center they turn up their noses and most say they'd just finished ripping some out.

I've found that when customers see the yews with their fresh, minty-lime color growth in the Spring they can't recognize it .  And then I tell them that if they let them grow to their full potential  ( 4 ' tall x 6' wide ) they need very little maintenance and look very natural.  

I attended a lecture by renown garden designer John Brookes in which he said that Americans don't use the Yew enough in their gardens, and don't seem to know how to.  Who said that yews have to be lined up like soldiers ?  I saw a lot of designers roll their eyes in disdain but I smiled in agreement. 

In winter its lush, deep green brightens the bleakness, and each Spring I marvel as it dons its chartreuse coat that dazzles the eye and delights the heart.