tree of the month Belfast Botanic Gardens

Friends of Belfast Botanic gardens

Tree of the month series - this series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens is compiled by members of the Friends group and Gardens staff. The series will gradually build up to a comprehensive archive of information about the trees in Belfast Botanic gardens. Each article will illustrate the tree in Belfast together with information from a range of sources elsewhere.

Click here for the rest of the trees

Tree of the Month, January 2008

Yew tree - Taxus baccata

(also Irish Yew - and golden yew)

by Jonathan Pilcher

The yew tree is one of the three conifers native to Ireland (the others are Scot's pine* and juniper). There are three forms of yew represented in the Belfast Botanic gardens. The wild form, the 'Irish' form, and a golden form. The wild form has a spreading shape and usually a much lobed stem. Today yews are seldom seen more than 7-8m high, but the species is capable of forming a substantial forest tree. Fossil remains of large yews are found in the bogs of central Ireland from a time 6000 to 8000 years ago when yew formed a significant component of the native forests. Wild yews are hard to find in the north of Ireland now, but take the scenic road to the Marble Arch Caves in Fermanagh and you will pass some close to the road. It was in this limestone area that two upright-growing yews were found in 1780. They were transplanted to the Florencecourt estate a few miles away where one survived and was called the Irish Yew. The original tree still grows there and the Irish yews grown all over the world have originated from this plant. Several golden forms have arrisen in cultivation.

Yew (Taxus baccata)

Seed and aril on female plant

young ovule (to right of picture) and 1-year ovule

male plant of golden yew with male cones

golden yew

Irish yew (Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'

There are a number of native yews in the Botanic Gardens for example on the main path from the Malone gate. The Golden yews and the best of the Irish Yews are on the grass in front of the Palm House.