Alaska Native Yew Trees

Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.)

Height: 20-40 ft
Diameter: 1-2 ft
Showy flower: no
Fall colors: no-evergreen
Drought tolerant: medium
Annual rainfall: 24-60
Soil Needs: moist, rich, well-draining
Frost Free Days: 140
Minimum Temperature (F): -18
Growth Rate:
State List: AK, CA, ID, MT, NV, OR,
WA ...more

Pacific Yew(Taxus brevifolia Nutt.) is a long lived conifer in the Yew family. It usually grows between 20-40 feet, occasionally up to 75,1-2 feet in diameter. The bark is reddish purple and flakes off in irregular, thin patches. Flowers bloom in early summer, producing male and female cones on separate trees. Eventually, they develop into fleshy, red seed containing cups, or
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Taxus brevifolia is native to the extreme southeastern portion of Alaska

Yew Trees of Alaska

-Color denotes a tree that is rare or endangered

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Consists mainly of shrubs and small trees that are evergreen and have flat, linear needles. They are also gymnosperms meaning they bear naked seeds. The foliage and seeds of members in the Yew family are extremely poisonous both to people and livestock. Care should be taken to ensure livestock cannot browse on Yew. People have died from eating the seeds

and consuming teas made from the leaves. Yew trees are prized as ornamentals and for their wood, particularly in bow making.

The state distribution maps in the species info boxes below are from the USDA NRCS PLANTS Database at plants.usda.gov. In instances where state specific maps are unavailable, the US distribution map will be used in its place. Also, the PLANTS Database website states "Our county data are based primarily on the literature, herbarium specimens, and confirmed observations. However, not all populations have been documented, so some gaps in the distribution shown above may not be real. Remember that only native and naturalized populations are mapped!"