Leyland cypress vs Common yew

Leyland cypress and Common yew are often considered for the same spot in the garden (hedge, screening). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Leyland cypress

× Cuprocyparis leylandii 8 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A very fast evergreen that gives you a tall, dense privacy hedge within a few years, but only choose it if you have the room and the time. It grows…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Common yew

Taxus baccata 4 m × 2.1 m after 10 years

Its dense, dark green foliage makes a useful evergreen hedge or a clipped garden feature, even in shade. It tolerates pruning well, but eventually…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 6.40

Key differences

Common yew is highly toxic to children, dogs and cats: even a small amount can be life-threatening. Do not plant it where small children, dogs or cats go. Needles, shoots, bark and seeds are highly poisonous to people, dogs and cats; dried clippings remain dangerous. Only the fleshy red aril is non-toxic, while the seed inside is poisonous, so the fruit should not be treated as edible.
Leyland cypress grows larger: 8 m × 2.5 m after ten years, against 4 m × 2.1 m for Common yew (an estimate: sources differ).
Leyland cypress grows faster than Common yew (an estimate: sources differ).
Common yew is hardier: down to -29 °C, against -23 °C for Leyland cypress.
Common yew tolerates drought better than Leyland cypress.
Common yew needs less care than Leyland cypress.
Common yew also grows in shade, Leyland cypress does not.

Which one to choose?

Leyland cypress is the better choice if small children, dogs or cats use the garden or you want quick results.

Common yew is the better choice if space is tight, the garden is cold or a frost pocket, you cannot water regularly or you have little time for care.

Watch out for

Leyland cypress

In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe this shallow-rooted plant easily suffers drought stress, and weakened hedges are attacked by fungal cankers (Seiridium, Botryosphaeria) and shoot dieback (Kabatina, needle blights): whole branches turn brown and there is no effective spray against canker. On waterlogged, heavy soil Phytophthora root rot kills it. Planting too densely and poor air movement make infections worse. It needs watering on frost-free winter days too, because the foliage keeps transpiring. Surfaces cut back into brown wood never green up again, and dead plants leave a lasting gap in the hedge. Old, tall specimens can blow over in storms.

Common yew

Waterlogged, poorly aerated soil can cause root rot and plant death. Prolonged hot, dry weather may require watering, especially while young; winter wind and sunshine can cause foliage browning. Scale insects, vine weevils and needle or shoot diseases can occur in Central Europe, but generally do not make it a poor garden choice. Male plants release allergenic pollen in spring.

The data side by side

Feature	Leyland cypress	Common yew
Group	Hedge	Hedge
Size after 10 years	8 m × 2.5 m (uncertain)	4 m × 2.1 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	18–30 m × 3–4.5 m	10–20 m × 8–15 m
Growth rate	Fast	Slow (uncertain)
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Low (uncertain)	Low
Foliage	Evergreen	Evergreen
Flowering	no data	March–April, yellow, green
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low	Medium
Maintenance	High	Medium
Planted as a hedge	2 plants per running metre	3 plants per running metre
For dogs	no data	Highly toxic
For cats	no data	Highly toxic
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	Highly toxic
Typical price	no data	about PLN 8.60 (< 40 cm)

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 17, 2026

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