Woody > Cephalotaxus > Cephalotaxus fortunei > Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus fortunei
Chinese Plum Yew
Origin: Eastern and central China.
| Family |
| Cephalotaxaceae |
| Genus |
| Cephalotaxus |
| Species |
| fortunei |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| Synonyms |
| Formerly listed in the Taxaceae family. |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 7 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 6a - 8a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H3 - H6 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -18 - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 0 - 30 |
| Height |
| 3 - 5 m |
| Spread |
| 3 - 5 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Robert Fortune (1812-1880), Scottish botanist and plant collector, introduced Cephalotaxus fortunei to Britain in 1848. The species name was applied after his death in his honour. |
| Landscape |
| Best used as a hedge or massing shrub. |
| Cultivation |
| Tolerant to heat and shade. Prefers moist, well drained and sandy soils. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| Needled evergreen with foliage resembling that of yews. Fruits on the females look like very small plums. Can be either a tree or more commonly a large shrub with spreading branches that have a slight drooping habit.. |
| Leaf Description |
| Linear, pointed, with dark green needles up to 8 cm long. These yew-like needles extend horizontally from the branchlets. Needles have two silver-white bands on their underside. |
| Fruit Description |
| Showy fruit resembling a small plum. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England. |
| Propagation |
| Cuttings collected in autumn or spring from the semi-ripe, upward growing wood. Cold stratification outside only produces 33% germination, to reach a 50% germination you would have to plant out in autumn and leave until the following winter period. Many have attempted to germinate in 3 months with a mist system and applying rooting promoters but have found to allow for successful germination you should leave it for 1–2 years. Patience is a virtue when propagating. |
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