Common names: Irish yew 

Irish name: iúr 

Latin name: Taxus baccata ‘fastigata’ 

Family: Taxaceae 

Origin: Native 

Tree type: Evergreen Conifer tree

The Irish yew trees are all clones of a mutated version of the common yew tree, first identified in Northern Ireland in the 1700s.  One of the original two specimens is still thriving today within the grounds of Florence Court Demesne in Northern Ireland. More than 5 million Irish yew trees have been propagated from this solitary surviving tree. Since the original Irish yew was a female, all authentic Irish yew trees are also female, producing vibrant red yew berries (arils) in autumn and winter. Any yew trees grown from the seeds of Irish yews will develop into common yew trees. 

How it looks

Shape, bark, twigs 

The Irish yew has distinctive upright growth, forming broad columns. The bark is thin, scaly, and reddish-brown with hints of purple, and it peels off in small flakes.

Leaves 

Irish yew's evergreen needle-like leaves are slender, leathery, and straight, tapering to a pointed tip. In contrast to common yew trees, the needles of Irish yews grow all around the twig rather than in distinct rows. These needles are notably darker green on the upper side (much darker than those of common yews) and green-grey with a raised central vein on the lower side. 

Flowers 

All Irish yew trees are female, and their female flowers appear in February and March. These flowers are small, measuring 1-2 mm in diameter, and have a bud-like appearance with scales. When young, they are green but transform into a brown, acorn-like structure as they age. 

Fruits 

Since all Irish yew trees are female, they produce vibrant red yew berries known as arils during the autumn and winter. Unlike most conifers, yew trees don't produce seeds within cones. The aril resembles a berry but is a fleshy, cup-like structure that is open at the bottom. It's important to note that any yew trees grown from the seeds of Irish yews will develop into common yew trees. 

Similar species 

Common yew (Taxus baccata) or other ornamental garden varieties which have to be propagated by cuttings. 

Where to find it

Irish yew trees have been planted in churchyards, parks, formal gardens, and hedges across Ireland since its discovery in the 1700s. It is shade-tolerant and prefers not to be exposed to wind or frost.  

Irish yew is widely cultivated and can now be found in formal gardens worldwide. 

Cultural importance

See Common Yew - Taxus Baccata

Value to wildlife

Yew berries contain toxic seeds that are harmful to most mammals. However, the fleshy red coverings, known as arils, are non-toxic and serve as a food source for creatures like squirrels and mice. Several bird species, including fieldfares and blackbirds, can consume whole yew berries, allowing the poisonous seeds to pass through their digestive systems undigested. This interaction aids in the dispersal of the yew tree's seeds. 

Yew leaves are a crucial food supply for caterpillars of the satin beauty moth. The evergreen and dense foliage of yew trees offers birds valuable winter roosting sites and nesting habitats during the spring and summer, contributing to their overall biodiversity and ecological importance. 

Threats

Yew trees are often considered highly resilient, but they can become vulnerable to root rot if the soil remains excessively wet for extended periods. Notably, yew trees face no significant threats from pests or diseases. 

To learn more about threats to Irish trees, visit ‘Threats toTrees.’

Uses

Irish yew wood, like the common yew, boasts remarkable strength and durability, making it suitable for crafting various items such as gates, furniture, flooring and panelling. However, Irish yew is primarily cultivated for its visual appeal rather than its timber quality. Thanks to its columnar growth pattern, Irish yews are more manageable compared to the common yew's sprawling growth, making them particularly well-suited for hedge formation and topiary art. 

Like the common yew, the Irish yew contains potent taxane alkaloids, which have been harnessed for developing anti-cancer medications. 

References

Forestry Focus. 2023. ‘Trees in Irish Placenames’, Forestry Focus Website. Online resource: Trees in Irish Place Names - Forestry Focus 

Kelly, F. 1999. Trees in Early Ireland, Augustine Henry Memorial Lecture 11th March 1999, Irish forestry: Journal of the Society of Irish Foresters, 56, 39-57.  

Literature and Ireland’s Trees. 2023. Literature and Ireland’s Trees. Online: LIT: Literature and Ireland's Trees (litliteratureandirelandstrees.com) 

MacCoitir, N. 2015. Ireland’s Trees: Myths, Legends and Folklore. Cork: The Collins Press. 

MacCoitir, N. 2016. Ireland – Land of the Yew? Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 38-40. 

McMahon, P. 2023. Island of Woods: How Ireland Lost Its Forests and How to Get Them Back, Dublin: New Island Books. 

Moore, Catriona. 2021. Between the Meadows: The archaeology of Edercloon on the N4 Dromod–Roosky Bypass: 11 (TII Heritage), Dublin: Transport Infrastructure Ireland. 

Neeson, E. 1991. A History of Irish Forestry, Dublin: The Lilliput Press Ltd. 

A-Z of British trees. Woodland Trust. Retrieved 11 April 2024, from https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/ 

Native Irish Trees. Tree Council. Retrieved 11 April 2024, from https://www.treecouncil.ie/native-irish-trees 

Stroh, P. A., Humphrey, T. A., Burkmar, R. J., Pescott, O. L., Roy, D. B., & Walker, K. J. (2023). BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020. https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas