Torreya nucifera

Torreya nucifera (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Light shade to full shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 20m

Eventual Spread: 10m

Hardiness: 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Cephalotaxaceae

Torreya nucifera is a slow growing, long lived, evergreen tree with a conical habit when young. Its dark green leaves are needle like with a sharp tip, linear, up to 3cm long and 3mm broad. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 1.5m. Its sub dioecious flowers are pollen cones, the male cones being globular and up to 6mm across and the female cones borne in clusters of up to 8. The female cones are wind pollinated and individual trees are self fertile. Its green/ purple fruit is a fleshy berry, ellipsoid, up to 2cm long and 1.5cm broad.

Torreya nucifera, commonly known as Kaya, Japanese Torreya or Japanese Nutmeg Yew, is native to southern Japan and an island off South Korea. In its native habitat it grows in woodlands and valley bottoms.

The etymological root of the binomial name Torreya is named after John Torrey (1796 – 1873), an American Botanist. Nucifera is derived from the Latin Nux meaning ‘nut’ and fero meaning ‘to bear’.

The landscape architect may find Torreya nucifera useful as a shade tolerant ornamental, evergreen specimen tree.

Ecologically, Torreya nucifera berries are attractive to some birds and mammals.

Torreya nucifera Leaf (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Torreya nucifera prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It prefers moist soils.

Torreya nucifera requires little maintenance.

Cephalotaxus fortunei

Cephalotaxus fortunei (20/10/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 6m

Eventual Spread: 6m

Hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Cephalotaxaceae

Cephalotaxus fortunei is a slow growing, evergreen large shrub or small tree, usually multi stemmed with a rounded crown. Its glossy dark green leaves are in the form of needles with sharp tips, these are arranged horizontally and are up to 15cm long. This plant is dioecious and wind pollinated. Its fruit appear on the male plant and are up to 25mm long. These are arils, appearing blue, ripening to a purple brown colour after two years, these are not edible.

Cephalotaxus fortunei Fruit (20/10/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Cephalotaxus fortunei, commonly known as Chinese Plum Yew, Plumb Yew or Chinese Cowtail Pine, is native to Central and south west China. In its native habitat it grows in woodlands. It was introduced into the UK in 1848.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cephalotaxus is derived from the Latin cephalo meaning ‘ palm tree’ and the genus taxus, i.e. a Yew with the fruit of the palm. Fortunei is derived from the name of Robert Fortune, the Scottish botanist and traveler best known for introducing tea plants from China to India, back in the 19th century.

Cephalotaxus fortunei Leaf (20/10/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

The landscape architect may find Cephalotaxus fortunei useful as an unusual specimen shrub. It is also suitable for ornamental woodland planting schemes.

Ecologically, Cephalotaxus fortunei the fruit of this tree are attractive to some birds and mammals.

Cephalotaxus fortunei prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Cephalotaxus fortunei requires little maintenance.

Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’

Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’ detail (04/12/2011, London)

Position: Full sun to full shade

Flowering period: Late winter to mid spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 0.8m

Eventual Spread: 4m

Hardiness: 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Taxaceae

Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’ is a low growing, evergreen spreading shrub. Its dark evergreen leaves are slender and needle like and flat in cross section. These leach alkaloids into the soil, clearing the ground around the tree of competition. Branches. Yellow flowers are produced in spring. As this variety is female, it produces red fruit which appear in autumn an persist through out the winter months (birds permitting).

Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’ is commonly known as the Rependans Yew. The species Taxus baccata is native to much of Europe including the UK. Most parts of the plant are toxic

The etymological root of the binomial name Taxus is derived from the Latin for the Yew tree, which is itself may be derived from the Greek taxon meaning bow. Baccata is derived from the Latin bacca ‘small berry’ or ’round fruit’. Repandens is also derived from the Latin repandum ‘spreading out’.

Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’ (04/12/2011, London)

The landscape architect may find Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’ as an effective low growing, low maintenance  ground cover plant, particularly in shady locations. It is tolerant of urban pollution and is drought tolerant once established. Careful consideration should be given to the placing of this plant as most parts are toxic.

Ecologically, Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’ is attractive to a number of bird species, including the thrush, for its fruit.

The Royal horticultural Society has given Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It will tolerate most pH of soil.

Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’ requires little maintenance.