About Taxus baccata aurea
Taxus baccata aurea, the golden venison tree, is a golden yellow form of the common venison tree - one of the longest-lived native trees of north-western Europe, known for its extremely slow growth and its thousands of-year-old specimens in churchyards and cathedral gardens. The ‘aurea’ form has golden yellow needles on the young shoots that give the tree a warm, yellow presence throughout the year.
Available from Smits in a special pruning form: as a 325-centimetre-high, multi-stemmed beehive. That beehive shape - a pruned cone or dome silhouette - is the result of years of expert pruning and instantly lends architectural character to any garden.
The growth form of the free yew is broadly conical to broadly oval. The trunk has the characteristic brownish-red, flaky yew bark that is particularly decorative and characterful on older specimens.
The leaves are needle-shaped, golden yellow on the young shoots at the top and on the outside of the crown, dark green on the older needles and on the underside. Completely evergreen. In full sun, the golden yellow colour is most intense; in shade, the colour becomes more yellow-green. The red arilli are decorative in autumn and winter.
Growth is extremely slow - the yew is one of the slowest-growing trees planted in Dutch gardens. This slow growth is precisely its advantage as a pruning topiary: its shape remains stable for years. All parts except the red fruiting tissue are poisonous.
Application and location
Taxus baccata aurea as a beehive is an impressive architectural accent for formal villa gardens, terraces and parks. The webbed beehive shape of 325 centimetres is a statement that instantly gives a special, mature look.
It thrives in full sun to shade. On loam, clay and sand. Wind resistant and air pollution tolerant. Caution: poisonous.
Winter hardiness is excellent. Available from Smits as a 325-centimetre-high, multi-stemmed beehive.
Do you already know exactly what you need?
Every garden and every greenery project is different. Therefore, at Smits Arboriculture we do not make standard quotations, but we like to look together at what suits your wishes, planning and the character of the project.
