Anglo-Japanese yew vs Irish yew

Anglo-Japanese yew and Irish yew are often considered for the same spot in the garden (specimen). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Anglo-Japanese yew

Taxus × media 2.5 m × 1.5 m after 10 years

A dark green, dense evergreen and one of the best plants for a clipped hedge: it grows in sun and deep shade alike, copes well with city air and…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 84

Irish yew

Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata' 3 m × 90 cm after 10 years

A dark green, strictly upright column that copes with full sun and deep shade alike, so it gives a vertical accent even where other evergreens would…

Shrub

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 20

Key differences

Irish yew grows taller, Anglo-Japanese yew spreads wider: 3 m × 90 cm and 2.5 m × 1.5 m after ten years (an estimate: sources differ).
Anglo-Japanese yew is hardier: down to -34 °C, against -23 °C for Irish yew.

Which one to choose?

Anglo-Japanese yew is the better choice if the garden is cold or a frost pocket.

Watch out for

Anglo-Japanese yew

On wet, poorly drained soil it is killed by root rot, which is the most common cause of failure. In exposed sites winter sun and cold wind can scorch the needles. Twig and needle blight, scale insects, mealybugs and vine weevil are occasional problems.

Irish yew

Root rot kills it in waterlogged, airless soil. Vine weevil larvae feed on the roots and scale insects on the shoots. Heavy wet snow can splay the upright branches, so tie them in loosely for winter. It is a female clone and drops plenty of red fruit in autumn.

The data side by side

Feature	Anglo-Japanese yew	Irish yew
Group	Hedge	Shrub
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 1.5 m	3 m × 90 cm (uncertain)
Ultimate size	3–6 m × 2–4 m	3–10 m × 1–3 m
Growth rate	Slow	Slow
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade	Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Medium (uncertain)	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Evergreen	Evergreen
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	40 cm	100 cm
For dogs	Highly toxic	Highly toxic
For cats	Highly toxic	Highly toxic
For children	Highly toxic	Highly toxic
Typical price	about PLN 100 (60–100 cm)	approx. PLN 20

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 26, 2026

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