Moon Yew

Moon Yew (Taxus x media 'Moon')

Moon Yew is a dense evergreen that brings year-round structure to beds that need reliable screening and a finished look in every season. Its upright, rounded form fills in well from top to bottom, so it reads full and intentional instead of open and leggy. Dark green needles create a calm backdrop that helps flowering shrubs and perennials stand out without competing for attention. If you want a long-lived evergreen that can be kept natural or lightly shaped, this yew is a dependable choice.

Distinctive Features

This anglojap yew develops a dense, upright, rounded habit with shiny, dark green, needle-like foliage that holds strong winter presence. The plant is valued for consistent lower branching, which helps it screen better than many other upright yews without heavy shearing. Mature plants form a substantial evergreen mass that works as both a screen and a backbone shrub in mixed borders. Like other yews, all parts are toxic if ingested, and deer browsing can be an issue where pressure is high.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, and it tolerates shade with good density.
• 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 10 to 12 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide.
• Habit: Upright, rounded evergreen shrub with dense branching.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use it as a focal point where a dense evergreen form can anchor the design and hold interest all year.
• Privacy Screen: Plant in a row to create a substantial screen that stays full from the ground up.
• Evergreen Massing: Group several plants to build a calm green wall that supports seasonal color around it.
• Foundation Backdrop: Place behind lower shrubs to add depth and evergreen structure near the home.
• Garden Rooms: Use to define outdoor spaces and create separation without relying on fencing.

Low Maintenance Care

• Pruning: Prune in late winter to early spring or after the main flush of growth to shape, thicken, and control size.
• Watering: Water deeply during the first growing season, then provide supplemental water during drought to prevent stress.
• 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 over time.
• Winter Exposure: In exposed sites, provide shelter from drying wind and strong winter sun to reduce needle scorch.

Why Choose Moon Yew?

• Dense Screening: Consistent lower branching helps it screen well without constant shearing.
• Year-Round Finish: Shiny dark green foliage keeps landscapes looking organized through every season.
• Strong Framework: A substantial size and full habit make it an excellent backbone shrub for long-term designs.
• Pruning Friendly: Responds well to shaping, so you can keep it crisp or let it stay naturally rounded.
• Flexible Light Tolerance: Performs in sun to part shade and can handle shade for more placement options.

Moon Yew is best when you give it good drainage, steady moisture while it establishes, and enough space to develop its dense, rounded form. Once settled, it becomes a reliable evergreen screen that quietly improves the look of the entire landscape. In areas with deer pressure, plan protection so the plant can maintain its full, finished appearance.