General Description

This tree has a wide spread, dense evergreen that has a deep green colour.

Landscape

This tree has many landscape uses. It is excellent at blocking unwanted views or can be used as a wind-breaking tree.

Cultivation

Can be planted in either sun or shade, and prefers a PH value of 5 to 8. Can tolerate either acidic or alkaline soils.

Shape

This tree has a wide spread shape that does not change throughout its life.

Growth

Slow

ID Characteristic

The 'Adpressa' is an irregularly-shaped tree that, from a distance, can appear to have a blueish tint. Upon closer inspection of the tree, the bark has a flaky chipped look and the needles have a greener hue.

Pests

Taxus scale, needle blight, twig blight, and the taxus mealy bug.

Bark/Stem Description

The bark on this tree is a greyish colour and is rough to the touch. The bark is also flaky and can be rubbed off.

Flower/Leaf Bud Description

Small buds that have an oval shape with scale like texture.

Leaf Description

The needles of the lower branches have a rounded oval shape and are about 0.6cm long and 0.2cm wide. They are more pointed than the needles of the leading shoots. On the margin line and the mid rib of this leaf the colour is a lighter green.

Flower Description

The flowers of this tree are usually green to yellow that resemble coloured buds at a distance than flowers. The flowers bloom in the spring around April.

Fruit Description

Unlike other Taxus baccata species, the fruit is smaller and the seed is more exposed but the arial still has a red colour.

Colour Description

The overall colour at a distance is a deep green colour that will stay the same all year, unless the needles are dessicated by wind burn in the winter. As you get a closer look at the plant the bark has a grey colour that will also remain. The fruit is bright red with exposed dark green seeds.

Texture Description

This tree has a rough texture to the touch due to its flaky bark. This texture stays rough all year round.

Notable Specimens

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England.

Propagation

This tree can only be propagated by cutting off another Taxus baccata 'Adpressa'. The best time to take cuttings is between the late summer to early winter. Once the cuttings are taken they should be rooted in greenhouses and cold frames.

Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer)

The Taxus genus has been used in the past as the precursor to chemotherapy, due to the toxic bark of the Taxus. The Indian Ayurveda and native Americans would use the Taxus as a laxative.

Dirr, M. A. (1977). Manual of woody landscape plants: Their identification, ornamental characteristics, culture, propagacion and uses. Chanpaign: Ill : Stipes. Gordon, G. (n.d.). The Pinetum. Retrieved March 22, 2016, from https://books.google.ca/books?id=I0hHAAAAYAAJ