I found a Yew

[Bretts]

Or did I

After Cutting the corner from the driveway to the front door with a new concrete path we decided to create a flower garden in the corner. We also agreed a good old Japanese maple would look great in the centre. I felt a little stupid that I did not have a Japanese maple (propagated) that would be tall enough to use and had to buy one. So I was hoping to walk away with a small one for about $15.
While in Orange I headed to Thompson's Nursery in Orange and after searching past all the grafted exotic maples I found a little Japanese Maple for $14.90. It must have been from last years stock as I then noticed J Maples half the size for more than $20.

Anyway before all this I had headed straight for the conifer section as they have an interesting selection of grafted and sometimes non grafted pines. Tucked at the back I noticed what looked like Yew. Dragged one out and found a nice beefy trunk and what seemed like great radiating roots with the top cut off
Checked the Tag and it stated Upright Japanese Plum Yew. Wow. $50 I thought dam I wish I was after a yew as this would have been a great find but couldn't justify adding another tree to my collection and taking another $50 out of the budget after spending $200 on imported pots and $40 on Boons DVD. Not to mention that I still had to take the family to the movies and buy a mobile phone for my Daughters Birthday.
I put it back.

Then the Misses (Danica) said that her Mum was wondering what to buy me for my birthday "Well there is a great Yew over there that she could buy me" There was a little wierd moment where I pulled the tree out on the path motioning this one this one before the deal was set and I carried it up to the counter for her. Although the deal almost fell apart when I offerd her a kiss as a thankyou that the Mother in law and checkout operator had a great laugh over about putting it back
It was only on the way home that I put two and two together and realised Danica was hoping I got the mother in law to buy us a better J maple for my birthday and it backfired on her with me getting the Yew instead

First thing I did when I got home was look up the care of Yew as I did have a vauge memory that it may not be great in my climate. I found they did not like much sun at all so the heat of my climate must have been my concern.
http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Taxus.html Harry's site suggested the Japanese Variety was more hardy than the English so I checked the name of mine.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'fastigiata' Upright Japanese plum yew.

I find that it may not actually be a "true" Yew Although closely related

http://www.floridata.com/ref/c/ceph_har.cfm

It is more tolerant of heat than the true yews (Taxus),

Still researching about it but as it is more heat tolerant maybe it is better that it is this and not a true Yew.

Does anyone know anything about this species in general or any Yew advice as It seems this species is treated the same anyway

I will get a pic or two later

[kcpoole]

Funny story Brett
Amazing how conspirators eventually get their comeuppance, Just glad Danica got hers without delay

I know nothing about Yew except what gets posted on the European forums.

Nice to see some pics tho

Ken

[Watto]

Bretts - no good in your climate, but great in mine. Send it down and I promise to send you some annual photos.
Watto

[Bougy Fan]

That's very charitable of you Watto - does Brett get visiting rights as well

[kcpoole]

That's very charitable of you Watto - does Brett get visiting rights as well

Yeah every year at the Gouburn Show Haha

Ken

[Bretts]

I will hold onto it for now thanks Watto

Here is a pic of the species in it's natural form

Handler.jpg

http://www.pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDispl ... lantID=719

[Bretts]

I can't work out why a garden nursery would chop the top off these but I am not complaining

001.jpg

003.jpg

I think the trunk on the left is best used. I will cut the other off leaving a stump for a nice chunky jin. Might be ok to take that trunk of now but otherwise I think I will leave it be for the rest of the season at least.

There is another two left at the nursery for anyone passing through but dare I say I think I got the best one

[hugh grant]

nice find mate its got a good trunk and low foliage which is great.
i actually have 2 of these in the ground growing at the moment both are about 1.5m tall and have about 2 inch trunks. im hoping to get them nice and fat but the very upward growth of them is a bit annoying. i think mine are 'irish' taxus baccata which is why it has the upright growth identical to yours. if you get the more commonly growing wild variety that grows through out Europe it has more finer bushy growth which is more commonly seen as bonsai similarly is taxus cuspidata the japanese yew. Im a very big fan of yews and i wish they were more available in Aus. im very excited t see how this one go's Brett

Hugh

[Bretts]

Thanks for the heads up Hugh I will keep you posted