Taxus baccata fastigiata Black Tower

The Taxus baccata Black Tower is a variety of yew with a remarkable design in all seasons. With a very harmonious and dense upright habit, slowly forming a vegetal flame, it is adorned with foliage that is much darker green than that of usual varieties. With its moderate growth, this elegant conifer is suitable for gardens of all sizes. Yew, a quiet force of nature, combines nobility of appearance and a very accommodating character; its growth is slow, it tolerates pruning perfectly, requires little maintenance, and adapts to a wide range of growing conditions. 'Fastigiata Black Tower' is perfect when planted alone to create a highly structured hedge, and is also well-suited for topiary art.

Very present in the oldest gardens and parks in Europe, Taxus baccata has sometimes been watching us for hundreds of years. Its remarkable longevity can reach several centuries. This species, which has become rare in nature, is native to Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. In France, it is still found in the plains of Brittany, Normandy, and the Vosges, in low and medium mountains in the south, and in Corsica. Some populations also survive in the limestone massifs of Provence, on the north slopes of Sainte Baume and Sainte Victoire near Aix-en-Provence. Some specimens growing in the Verdon Gorge are said to be over a thousand years old. Impressive specimens can also be admired in old gardens or cemeteries near churches for symbolic reasons, as yew is considered to be the link between heaven and earth. The needles, bark, and fruits are toxic to humans and animals, except for birds that consume the berries and excrete the seeds. Common yew is a conifer in the Taxodiaceae family, just like cryptomerias and metasequoias.

The 'Fastigiata Black Tower' yew cultivar will reach a height of approximately 4.5m (14 ft 10 in) and a diameter of 2m (6 ft 7 in) at maturity after many years. At the age of 10, the plant will measure approximately 1.75m (5 ft 8 in) in height and 50cm (19.7 in) in width. Its short and erect branches and trunk are covered with reddish-brown bark that flakes off. Its branches are adorned with flattened, shiny needles with two white bands on the underside, ending in a sharp point but very soft to the touch. Their colour, at the time of spring or winter budburst, is a medium blue-green. Over the weeks, they turn very dark and deep green, with brown or purplish reflections. This conifer provides a presence throughout the seasons and often forms the backbone of the garden. It is a dioecious tree; each individual only bears male or female flowers. Thus, red berries appear after discreet flowering only on female plants, in the presence of male plants of any variety. It is also a honey-bearing tree.

The Taxus baccata 'Black Tower' does not need any embellishment, but it enhances any decor and can even be a centerpiece of the garden. Naturally elegant like all yews, it can be planted in gardens of all sizes, from the north to the south of our country, and can adapt to all styles: strict, whimsical, classic, contemporary, mineral, slightly mystical, or poetic. Moreover, this yew is not only very hardy but also tolerates all types of soil: ordinary, slightly acidic or alkaline, moist or dry. It can be a beautiful solitary specimen or be accompanied by low shrubs, or even creeping ones (low Cotoneaster, Chamaecyparis, and small-growing junipers, white germander, etc). If you are patient, you can also plant it as a hedge or in a row along a large avenue with a row of boxwood or Tarente myrtle in a mild climate. Pruning is not necessary or can be limited to once a year, and it will successfully regenerate after a more severe cut by penetrating the old wood. Indifferent to exposure, it can even be planted in shade in a warm climate. Lastly, yew can advantageously replace cypress, which grows faster but is susceptible to diseases and not suitable for pruning.