Green Wave Yew

Green Wave Yew (Taxus x media 'Green Wave')

Green Wave Yew is a dependable evergreen that keeps beds looking finished in every season, especially in spots where you want wide coverage without extra height. The arching, low-spreading habit softens edges and fills space with a calm, dark green texture that pairs easily with almost anything. It is a strong choice for foundation plantings and shaded borders because it holds density better than many shrubs in lower light. If you want a long-term evergreen base layer that stays useful all year, this yew fits that role.

Distinctive Features

This yew forms a dense, low, mounded to spreading shrub with gracefully arching branches and glossy, dark green needles. New growth often emerges a brighter green before maturing, adding a subtle seasonal lift without losing its classic look. The overall habit is wider than tall, making it ideal for horizontal structure and evergreen massing. Like other yews, it tolerates pruning well, but all parts are toxic if ingested.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to shade, with best density in full sun to part shade.
• 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 4 to 7.
• Mature Size: Typically about 3 to 4 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide.
• Habit: Low, mounded, spreading evergreen shrub with arching branches.
• Deer: Not deer resistant and can be significantly damaged by browsing.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use a single, well-shaped plant as a focal point in a small bed where a broad evergreen form can anchor the design year-round.
• Foundation Planting: Mass along the house for a durable evergreen base layer that keeps beds looking finished in winter.
• Evergreen Groundcover: Plant in groups to create wide, low coverage that reduces visual clutter and supports nearby seasonal color.
• Shaded Borders: Use under open trees or along north-facing beds to add dense structure where many shrubs thin out.
• Low Hedge: Plant in a line and shear lightly to form a compact evergreen edge along walks and bed lines.

Low Maintenance Care

• Pruning: Prune in late winter to early spring or after the main flush of growth to shape and encourage denser branching.
• 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 reduce weeds, keeping mulch a few inches away from stems.
• Drainage: Avoid wet, poorly drained soils to reduce the risk of root and crown problems.
• Winter Protection: In exposed sites, protect from drying wind and strong winter sun to reduce needle scorch.

Why Choose Green Wave Yew?

• Wide Coverage: A low, spreading habit fills space efficiently without adding unwanted height.
• Year-Round Structure: Dense evergreen foliage keeps landscapes looking organized through every season.
• Shade Tolerance: Performs well in part shade and can handle deeper shade better than many evergreens.
• Pruning Friendly: Responds well to trimming, making it easy to maintain clean edges or a softer mound.
• Design Versatility: Works as a foundation base layer, low hedge, or evergreen mass in mixed borders.

Green Wave Yew is best when you give it good drainage, steady moisture while it establishes, and room to spread into its signature low, arching form. Once settled, it becomes a dependable evergreen layer that quietly makes everything around it look more intentional. In areas with deer pressure, plan protection so the plant can keep the dense, finished look it is valued for.