Hedgehog Plum Yew

Hedgehog Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Hedgehog')

Hedgehog Japanese Plum Yew is a compact evergreen that keeps shaded beds looking finished all year with dense, deep green texture. Its low, spreading habit fills space neatly, giving you coverage where many shrubs get thin or uneven in lower light. Because it stays naturally tidy, it works well in foundation beds and borders without demanding constant trimming. If you want a dependable evergreen that brings structure and calm to tough spots, this is a practical choice.

Distinctive Features

This Japanese plum yew forms a dense, mounding to low-spreading shrub with long, glossy, rich green needles that hold color well through the seasons. The branching is tighter and more compact than many other spreading plum yews, which helps it look refined even when left unpruned. It tolerates shade extremely well and can handle dry shade better than many broadleaf evergreens once established. The overall effect is a clean evergreen mass that adds year-round structure and makes surrounding plantings look more intentional.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Part shade to shade is ideal, and it can take more sun in cooler summer areas with adequate moisture.
• Soil: Well-drained soil is essential, and it adapts to loam, sand, or clay when drainage is reliable.
• Water: Medium moisture, keep evenly moist while establishing, then water during extended dry periods.
• USDA Zones: Zones 6 to 9.
• Mature Size: Typically 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide.
• Habit: Low, dense, mounding to spreading evergreen shrub.
• Deer Resistance: Often deer resistant, but protect young plants where browsing pressure is high.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use it as a focal point in a shaded bed where a dense, low evergreen form can anchor the design year-round.
• Foundation Planting: Mass along the house for a clean evergreen base layer that stays attractive through winter.
• Border Edging: Plant along the front of a border to create a tidy evergreen line with minimal pruning.
• Shaded Borders: Use under open trees or along north-facing beds to add dependable structure where many shrubs thin out.
• Evergreen Groundcover: Group several plants to create wide, low coverage that reduces visual clutter and supports seasonal color around it.

Low Maintenance Care

• Pruning: Prune in late winter to early spring or after new growth firms up to refine shape and encourage density.
• Watering: Water deeply during the first growing season and during drought to prevent stress and thinning.
• Mulching: Mulch the root zone to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch a few inches away from stems.
• Drainage: Avoid wet, poorly drained soils to reduce the risk of root problems over time.
• Winter Exposure: In windy, exposed sites, provide some shelter to reduce winter drying and temporary foliage bronzing.

Why Choose Hedgehog Japanese Plum Yew?

• Shade Strength: Performs well in shade while staying dense and polished.
• Compact Coverage: A low, spreading habit fills space without adding unwanted height.
• Year-Round Texture: Glossy deep green needles keep beds looking finished in every season.
• Low Maintenance: Holds a tidy look with minimal pruning and straightforward care.
• Reliable Toughness: Handles challenging sites, including dry shade, better than many evergreen options once established.

Hedgehog Japanese Plum Yew is best when you give it good drainage and steady moisture while it establishes, then let it settle into its dense, low form. Place it where you need evergreen structure in shade, and it will quietly improve the look of the entire planting. With light shaping as needed, it can stay crisp and controlled for years.