Taxus media 'Hicksii'

Taxus media ‘Hicksii’ is one of the best-known columnar yew cultivars in the range - a hybrid yew (Taxus baccata x Taxus cuspidata) selected in the United States by nurseryman Hicks in the early 20th century. The cultivar has been known for decades for its reliable, upright columnar form, its dense dark green needle dress and its versatility. The growth form is upright columnar, with a tight, narrow habit that gives the tree its characteristic columnar silhouette. Available from Smits as a bonsai and as a multi-stemmed plant, both of 200/225 centimetres height. At maturity, the columnar taxus reaches 3 to 5 metres in height with a width of only 1 to 1.5 metres - this combination of height and narrow width makes it useful on sites where space is limited in width. The trunk has the characteristic brownish-red scaly yew bark. The needle leaves are dark green on top and lighter green underneath, densely arranged in two rows along the twigs. Fully evergreen - the same dark green colour all year round. The red arilli ripen in autumn and winter and are decorative. Growth is slow to moderate. That slow, upward growth makes ‘Hicksii’ particularly stable as an architectural element. Its pruning ability is good. As a columnar yew, ‘Hicksii’ is also popular as a form element in formal garden designs. All yew parts except the red aril tissue are poisonous.