Difficult to showcase conifers (esp large ones) without showing most of the plant. The foliage alone shows very little of their quality. Today’s #oneadayplant is one of my favourite design sentinels, particularly useful as an exclamation mark in planted schemes. Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ (Irish Yew). . Slow growing and often seen at maturity only in botanical collections, the gardens of stately homes, or churchyards, this is an excellent, slim, naturally upright form perfect to demarcate path ends, frame views and organise spaces. . Dark leaved, glossy, evergreen foliage and contrasting coral-red berries, it requires little to no maintenance once planted and will naturally grow perfectly vertically. . Like all Taxus, all parts of the plant excluding the flesh of the berries (often called ‘Snot Berries’) is toxic if eaten. Even the seed inside those berries are toxic with only a few seeds potentially enough to seriously harm or kill a person. While obviously dangerous, it poses no risk if you simply don’t eat it, so, as long as family members are educated and if you have foolish pets, planting is kept well away from their access, you should be fine. . Taxus is an unpopular choice for a hedge adjoining farmland or paddocks as grazing horses, sheep and cattle will likely consume it b and get seriously ill or die; so best not planted in these spots. . There are variegated forms of these fastigiate yews. All are good, though even slower growing than this green leaved form and prone to scorch. Very slim until later life, they are a shorter, suitable alternative to Pencil Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) or the tall, upright blue juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’). . #taxus #taxusbaccatafastigiata #yew #irishyew #tree #conifer #shrub #topiary #juniperusskyrocket #cupressussempervirens #churchyard #statelyhome #botanicalcollection #conifers #yew #poisonousplants #poisonous #iplantsman #gardening #plantingdesign #gardendesign #foliageplant #foliage #gardeningadvice #gardeningtips (at Stanmer Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGewLYeABKy/?igshid=1x8vizozvveeo
