Taxus baccata Ivory Tower - Yew

Taxus baccata 'Ivory Tower' is a variety of variegated common yew that is appreciated for its narrow and luminous columnar shape, perfectly suited for terraces and small gardens with a classically inspired theme. Its foliage, tinted with cream in winter, turns yellow in summer when the shrub is exposed to the sun. This conifer, like all yews, has slow growth, requires little maintenance, and adapts to many growing conditions. 

Very present in the oldest gardens and parks in Europe, Taxus baccata sometimes grace us with their presence for hundreds of years. Their longevity is indeed remarkable and they can live for several centuries. The species, which has become rare in nature, is native to Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. You can admire impressive specimens in old gardens or cemeteries, planted near churches for symbolic reasons as the yew is considered to be a link between heaven and earth. The needles, bark, and fruits are toxic to humans and animals, except for birds that consume the berries and discard the seeds. The common yew is a conifer of the Taxaceae family.

The 'Ivory Tower' cultivar stands out for its small size, narrow upright habit, and variegated foliage. With slow growth, it reaches about 3 m (9 ft 10 in) in height and 30 cm (11.8 in) in diameter at maturity. At the age of 10 years, the plant will measure about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in height and 30 cm (11.8 in) in width. Its short, upright branches and trunk are covered with a reddish-brown, peeling bark. Its branchlets are adorned with flattened and shiny needles with two white bands on the underside, pointed at the tip but very soft to the touch. When this yew is planted in the sun, its young shoots, tinted with cream in winter, turn yellow in summer, contrasting with the older foliage of a very dark green. It adds a presence throughout the seasons and often forms the backbone of the garden. It is a dioecious tree: the individuals bear male or female flowers. Thus, the red berries appear after a discreet flowering only on the female plants.