Japanese Plum Yew, Cowtail Pine, Plum-fruited yew
Cephalotaxus harringtonii

Family: Taxaceae

What it is like

A low spreading evergreen tree. It grows 6-12 m tall. The bark is brown and flaking. The dense branches form a rounded bush like tree. The leaves are needles spread out on each side of the twigs. They curve upwards to forma V shaped trough. They have a prominent central rib. The leaves are narrow and 5 cm long by 3 mm wide. They are dark green above and pointed. They have 2 bands underneath. The male and female flowers are on separate plants. The male flowers are in the axils of leaves and the female flowers are on the tips of shoots. Male flowers are slightly larger than female flowers. The flowers are creamy white. The fruit are 2.5 cm long and oval. They are blue-green and ripen to purple-brown.

There are about 10 Cephalotaxus species. Also put in the family Cephalotaxaceae.

Where it is found

It grows on most soils except chalk soils. It can grow in shade. In China it grows to 900 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. Geelong Botanical Gardens. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Melbourne Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Europe, Korea, Japan, Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

The fleshy fruit is sweet and is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds can take 2 years to germinate. It can be grown by cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Inu-gaya, Korean plum yew

Synonyms

Cephalotaxus buergeri Miq.; Cephalotaxus drupacea Siebold & Zucc.; Cephalotaxus drupacea f. fastigiata (Carrière) Pilg.; Cephalotaxus drupacea var. harringtonii (Knight ex J.Forbes) Pilg.; Cephalotaxus drupacea var. koreana (Nakai) Hatus.; Cephalotaxus drupacea var. pedunculata (Siebold & Zucc.) Miq.; Cephalotaxus drupacea f. sphaeralis (Mast.) Pilg.; Cephalotaxus fortunei var. foemina Carrière; Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. fastigiata (Carrière) Rehder; Cephalotaxus harringtonii subsp. drupacea (Siebold & Zucc.) Silba; Cephalotaxus harringtonii var. drupacea (Siebold & Zucc.) Koidz.; Cephalotaxus harringtonii f. drupacea (Siebold & Zucc.) Kitam.; Cephalotaxus harringtonii f. fastigiata (Carrière) Rehder; Cephalotaxus harringtonii var. fastigiata (Carrière) C.K.Schneid.; Cephalotaxus harringtonii var. harringtonii; Cephalotaxus harringtonii subsp. koreana (Nakai) Silba; Cephalotaxus harringtonii f. sphaeralis (Mast.) Rehder; Cephalotaxus harringtonii var. sphaeralis (Mast.) C.K.Schneid.; Cephalotaxus koreana Nakai; Cephalotaxus pedunculata Siebold & Zucc.; Cephalotaxus pedunculata var. fastigiata Carrière; Cephalotaxus pedunculata var. sphaeralis Mast.; Nageia koraiana (Siebold ex Endl.) Kuntze; Podocarpus koraiana C. Siebold ex Endl.; Podocarpus koraianus Siebold ex Endl.; Taxus baccata Thunb. [Illegitimate]; Taxus coriacea Knight [Invalid]; Taxus drupacea (Siebold & Zucc.) C.Lawson; Taxus harringtonii Knight ex J.Forbes; Taxus inukaja Knight [Invalid]; Taxus japonica Lodd. ex Gordon [Invalid]; Taxus pedunculata (Siebold & Zucc.) C.Lawson;