English Yew Instant Hedging Units

Our English Yew Instant Hedging Units, featuring Taxus baccata, provide a timeless and sophisticated solution for creating an elegant, evergreen hedge. Renowned for its dense, dark green foliage and classic appearance, English Yew is the perfect choice for adding structure, privacy, and year-round interest to your garden. These pre-grown units ensure immediate coverage, giving your outdoor space a mature and established look from the moment they are planted.

Features of English Yew

Taxus baccata, commonly known as English Yew, is a traditional evergreen conifer celebrated for its rich, dark green needle-like leaves and dense growth habit. It is highly versatile and can be shaped into formal, clean lines or left to grow naturally for a softer, more organic appearance. English Yew is known for its longevity and slow growth, making it an excellent choice for long-lasting, low-maintenance hedging. In autumn, female plants produce small, red berries that add a splash of color and interest against the dark foliage. While the berries are attractive, it’s important to note that they, along with other parts of the plant, are toxic if ingested.

Benefits for Nature

English Yew hedges provide excellent shelter and nesting sites for birds and small wildlife, offering a safe haven within their dense foliage. The red berries produced by female plants attract birds such as thrushes and blackbirds, which feed on the fleshy arils while helping to disperse the seeds. The thick, evergreen cover also provides essential protection for wildlife during the winter months, making English Yew a valuable addition to a wildlife-friendly garden.

Landscaping and Design Appeal

English Yew Instant Hedging Units are a top choice for creating formal, stately hedges or defining garden spaces with a touch of classic elegance. Their dense foliage and adaptability to pruning make them ideal for creating clean, crisp lines in formal garden designs, including topiary and geometric shapes. English Yew’s ability to be shaped into narrow or wide hedges allows for versatility in garden planning, whether you need a tall privacy screen, a low border, or a sculptural element. Its tolerance for shade and ability to thrive in a variety of conditions make it a flexible choice for different garden settings.

Preferred Conditions

English Yew thrives in well-drained soil and can adapt to a variety of soil types, including chalky, sandy, and clay soils. It prefers a position in full sun to partial shade, although it is known for its ability to tolerate deep shade, making it suitable for a variety of locations. During the establishment period, regular watering is crucial to encourage healthy growth and a strong root system. Once established, English Yew is remarkably hardy and drought-tolerant, requiring minimal maintenance. Pruning can be done once or twice a year to maintain the desired shape and promote denser growth.

Fun Fact

Did you know that English Yew is one of the longest-living tree species in Europe? Some specimens are believed to be over 1,000 years old. Historically, yew wood was highly valued for its strength and elasticity, making it the preferred material for longbows in medieval times. This rich history adds a sense of heritage and timelessness to gardens featuring English Yew.

Summary

English Yew Instant Hedging Units offer a classic and enduring way to introduce structure, privacy, and year-round greenery into your garden. With its dense foliage, slow growth, and adaptability to various conditions, Taxus baccata is a versatile and elegant choice for gardens of any style, providing immediate sophistication and a sense of permanence to your outdoor space.

Disclaimer

Please note that the fullness and appearance of your English Yew Instant Hedging Units may vary depending on the season and maturity of the plants. Regular care, including pruning and watering, is essential to maintain the hedge’s structure and health. Additionally, all parts of the yew plant, including the berries, are toxic if ingested, so caution is advised if planted in gardens with pets or small children.

FREE Specialist Delivery Available

Free specialist delivery on qualifying orders: At Harrod Outdoors, we take pride in delivering top-quality plants directly to your doorstep. Our delivery options are tailored to the size and type of plants you order, ensuring they arrive in excellent condition and ready to transform your outdoor space. We offer free specialist delivery on qualifying orders across most of the UK.

Typical lead time – around 3–4 weeks: Most orders take approximately 3–4 weeks to prepare and deliver. This time allows us to carefully source from our extensive range, prepare your plants to our high standards, and ensure everything arrives in peak condition.

Kerbside delivery only: All deliveries are kerbside, meaning your plants will be unloaded at the front of your property (driveway or kerbside) and will not be carried beyond this point. It is your responsibility to move the plants to their final location once delivered.

Safe place required: Please specify a safe place for box, pallet or van deliveries in your order notes. If none is provided, drivers will leave your order where they deem reasonable. Pallet and large tree deliveries require flat, solid access such as tarmac, concrete or brickweave – we cannot deliver onto gravel, shingle, grass or public roads or pathways.

Be available on the day of delivery: It is essential that you are contactable on your provided phone number in case the driver needs to reach you. If access is restricted, no safe place is available, or the driver is instructed not to leave the order, delivery will fail and additional delivery charges will apply or you may need to collect from the local depot.

Plan ahead: We recommend not booking landscapers or gardeners solely based on estimated delivery dates, as occasional delays can occur due to factors beyond our control. For full details, view our Delivery Policy or contact us for advice before ordering.

If you need help selecting the right plants or have specific delivery requirements, our friendly team is here to assist. You can trust us to handle your order with expertise every step of the way. View our Delivery Policy or Contact Us for more information.