Hopken's Gigant English Yew

Hopken's Gigant English Yew (Taxus baccata 'Hopken's Gigant')

Hopken's Gigant English Yew is a narrow evergreen that brings privacy and year-round structure to landscapes that cannot spare much width. Its dense, dark green foliage creates a clean backdrop that makes beds look finished in every season. Use it to define property lines, frame entrances, or build a refined screen that does not feel bulky. Once established, it is long-lived and dependable, with a tidy look that can be kept natural or lightly shaped.

Distinctive Features

This cultivar grows as an upright, columnar English yew with dense branching and rich, dark green needles. The form is naturally narrow, making it useful where a tall screen is needed in a tight corridor. Like other English yews, it can develop red, berry-like arils on female plants in fall if pollinated, adding subtle seasonal interest and bird appeal. All parts are toxic if ingested, so place thoughtfully in areas used by pets and children.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, and it also tolerates shade.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil is best, and it adapts to many soil types when drainage is reliable.
• Water: Medium moisture, keep evenly moist while establishing, then water during extended dry periods.
• USDA Zones: Zones 6 to 7.
• Mature Size: Typically 15 to 25 feet tall and about 3 to 5 feet wide.
• Habit: Upright, narrow, columnar evergreen shrub to small tree.
• Deer: Not deer resistant and may be browsed, especially in winter.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use it as a focal point where a tall, narrow evergreen column can anchor the design year-round.
• Privacy Screen: Plant in a row to create a dense screen in narrow side yards and tight boundary lines.
• Formal Accents: Place near entries or corners to add height and structure without widening the bed.
• Evergreen Backdrop: Use behind flowering shrubs and perennials to keep borders looking finished in every season.
• Wind Sheltering: Use as part of a sheltered planting to help block wind while maintaining a refined look.

Low Maintenance Care

• Pruning: Prune in late winter to early spring or after the main flush of growth to maintain a clean column and improve 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 temperatures, keeping mulch a few inches away from stems.
• Drainage: Avoid wet, poorly drained soils to reduce the risk of root and crown problems over time.
• Winter Protection: In exposed sites, shelter from drying wind and strong winter sun to reduce needle scorch.

Why Choose Hopken's Gigant English Yew?

• Narrow Screening: Delivers tall privacy and structure while staying slim enough for tight spaces.
• Year-Round Presence: Dark green evergreen foliage keeps landscapes looking organized through every season.
• Long-Term Backbone: A durable plant that can serve as a permanent framework for mixed borders.
• Pruning Friendly: Responds well to shaping for a formal look or to control size over time.
• Flexible Light Tolerance: Performs in sun to part shade and tolerates shade for more placement options.

Hopken's Gigant English Yew is best when you give it good drainage, steady moisture while it establishes, and space to keep airflow around the foliage. Once settled, it becomes a dependable vertical evergreen that quietly elevates the entire landscape. If deer are common, plan protection so the plant can maintain its dense, finished look.