Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew

$180.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 30cm/33cm

30cm/33cm 40cm/45L 50cm 100L

Current Stock Height Guides

50L: Enquire within for height guide information.
100L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 3m to 5m (approx.)

Mature Width: 1m to 1.5m

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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About Your New Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata', the upright Plum Yew, is a slow growing evergreen conifer that holds a narrow columnar shape without clipping. Dark green needles radiate right around the stems in a bottlebrush arrangement, giving the plant a soft texture that reads well against masonry, rendered walls and clipped hedging.

It grows about 15 to 30 centimetres a year and reaches roughly 2 to 3 metres tall and 1 to 1.5 metres wide. Part shade to full shade suits it best, though it accepts morning sun in cool districts. Frost hardy through Melbourne, Canberra and the tablelands, it wants moist, well drained soil.

Use it for narrow screens along boundaries, as a repeated vertical in courtyard beds, or in pots at an entry where the form stays tidy for years. It is one of the few conifers that holds good colour in genuine shade, which makes it useful under established canopy where junipers and cypress fail.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Plum Yew

What is a Plum Yew?

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' is an evergreen conifer from Japan, grown for its narrow upright habit and dark green needle foliage. Despite the common name it is not a true yew, though the foliage is similar in look and feel. It is naturally columnar and compact, so it holds a formal shape with very little pruning.

How big does Plum Yew grow?

Expect around 2 to 3 metres in height and 1 to 1.5 metres across at maturity, and that takes many years given the slow growth rate. In a container it stays smaller again, usually under 2 metres. The narrow footprint is the main reason it gets specified for tight side passages and courtyards.

How fast does Plum Yew grow?

Roughly 15 to 30 centimetres a year, which is slow. Planting an advanced specimen is the practical way to get height quickly, since a small plant takes a long time to fill a screen. The upside is that it holds its shape and does not outgrow its position, so maintenance stays minimal over the life of the planting.

Does Plum Yew need sun or shade?

Part shade to full shade gives the best foliage colour. It is one of the more shade tolerant conifers available and will grow happily under an established canopy or on the south side of a building. Full sun works in cooler southern districts, but foliage can yellow and scorch in hot inland or harsh western sun.

Is Plum Yew frost tolerant?

Yes. It handles heavy and repeated frost without damage, which covers Canberra, the Southern Highlands, Melbourne, the Adelaide Hills and Tasmania. Young plants benefit from mulch over the root zone in their first winter, but established specimens need no protection. Cold does not discolour the foliage the way it does with some conifers.

Can Plum Yew grow in pots?

Yes, it is one of the better conifers for containers because it grows slowly and stays narrow. A pot 40 to 50 centimetres wide suits a single specimen at an entry, on a balcony or in a courtyard. Use a quality potting mix, keep the water up over summer and feed in spring and autumn.

How do I care for Plum Yew?

Water regularly through the first two summers and mulch to keep the roots cool. Pruning is optional, and a light trim in early spring tidies any wayward stems. Feed with a slow release fertiliser in spring. Keep it out of waterlogged ground, which is the one situation it will not tolerate. The seeds and foliage are toxic if eaten.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Shrubs
Screening or Privacy
Plant in Pots (or) Suitable for Pots

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew works in an:

Japanese Inspired – serene balance of form, foliage, and flow.
Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Woodland Garden – layered, naturalistic design under dappled light.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew Evergreen or Deciduous?

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 3m to 5m (approx.)

Mature Width: 1m to 1.5m

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (approx.).

Growth Rate of Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Slow Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew

Is Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew frost tolerant?

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

Does Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew Flower?

Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’ produces very small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in spring. These subtle reproductive structures sit quietly among the dark evergreen needles and are not considered ornamental.

Does Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew flower?

No - Doesn't Flower

Flowering Period:

Spring

Flower Type:

Not Applicable

Flower Colour:

Not Applicable

Is Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew an Australian Native Tree?

No

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew is Native to Japan, Korea, and eastern China, where the parent species (Cephalotaxus harringtonia) grows naturally in mountain forests.

What is the Wildlife Value of Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew ?

Its dense evergreen foliage provides shelter for small birds and ground-dwelling wildlife, while the fleshy fruit (on female plants) attracts birds that feed on the arils. The layered structure also supports insects and contributes to a cool, stable micro-habitat beneath its canopy.

How much Sunlight does Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew need?

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’ performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions. It can struggle in heavy clay or waterlogged ground unless improved with organic matter and coarse material to enhance drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as the plant matures to support its upright form and evergreen density.

Is Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew Drought Tolerant?

Is Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it requires regular watering, but once established Cephalotaxus ‘Fastigiata’ develops moderate drought tolerance. It performs reliably in shaded or partially shaded gardens and maintains its narrow, upright habit with deep, occasional watering during extended dry periods.

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How To Plant Your Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop, or a large container in a bright spot.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure, or use a premium potting mix in containers.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth in garden beds. For pots, choose a container at least 50 centimetres wide and deep.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil or potting mix, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Pot or container: A 40 to 50 centimetre wide pot suits a single specimen for courtyards, entries and balconies.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (approx.).

Slow Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, reduce to once weekly in dry periods. Mulch helps maintain consistent moisture.

Mulching: Apply a 5 centimetre layer of organic mulch or pine bark over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk to avoid waterlogging at the base.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape. Needles drop slowly and rake up easily.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional scale or caterpillar inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew in Different Soil

Cephalotaxus harringtonia performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam with a neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is sharp and waterlogging is avoided.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting, and mound slightly to lift the root zone.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent foliage colour.

pH: Neutral preferred. A light dressing of dolomite suits most conifers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is the 'Fastigiata' Plum Yew deer-resistant? Yes, it's less appealing to deer.
Can it grow in full shade? Absolutely, it's one of the few conifers that thrives in full shade.