Maureen Columnar Yew

Maureen Columnar Yew For Narrow Evergreen Hedges

Sweet and slim, the Maureen Columnar Yew (Taxus x media 'Maureen') is a sleek, upright evergreen with a sculpted silhouette that's as tidy as a formal English garden but far easier to care for! This female hybrid Yew is prized for its narrow columnar shape, dense dark green foliage, and adaptability to shearing, shade, or sun! It's like a literal living exclamation point for your garden!

Not its showiest feature, but birds adore the red berries that follow inconspicuous blooms. The Maureen Yew stays neat and tall, maturing into a naturally sculpted living column 4-8 feet high and only about 1-2 feet wide, making it an ideal candidate for vertical accents and tight spaces!

A hybrid of English and Japanese Yew, this elegant evergreen boasts fine, soft, needle-like foliage in a rich forest green that holds its color beautifully through the winter. Its upright branches grow in a refined column that resists flopping or splaying!

Despite its formal look, it requires little pruning to maintain its clean lines. No dramatic fall color shift here—Maureen stays evergreen through the seasons, adding structure and depth to the winter landscape. It's part of the Taxus x media clan, a beloved group of hybrid Yews with the best of both worlds: toughness from Japanese Yew and elegance from English Yew.

Key Features

• Evergreen female hybrid with red ornamental berries
• Narrow, upright form ideal for tight garden spaces
• Architectural unique shape - stays uniform naturally
• Hardy to USDA Zone 4-8
• Tolerates sun, shade, and pollution
• Deer resistant and low maintenance
• Perfect for shearing into formal shapes
• Great for both formal and naturalistic gardens

Landscaping Uses

Maureen Columnar Yew grows into a stately and striking vertical form!

Use it in the garden as:

• Narrow hedging for privacy or windbreaks
• Column accents at entries or along walkways
• Year-round green architecture in formal gardens
• Vertical punctuation in foundation plantings as corner accents
• Space-saving screen for patios, seating areas, pools, or as living fences
• Specimens in large containers or courtyards
• Highlight the entrance to a path with a pair flanking a garden gate
• Property division, narrow hedges along paths and side yards, and great backdrops to landscaping beds
• Fantastic specimens in Rock Gardens, Zen Gardens, Sand and Stone Gardens, and sheared evergreen gardens, mixed with Bonsai or Topiaries!

Care and Maintenance

Resistant to deer and urban pollution, the Maureen Columnar Yew is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8 and thrives in a range of climates, especially where summers are not too hot and humid. Its parentage gives it an excellent ability to adapt to both clay and sandy soils as long as they're well-drained.

This evergreen shrub is both graceful and rugged—handling cold, partial shade, and urban grime like a champ.

• Planting Time: Spring or fall
  Sun Needs: Full sun to full shade (best in part shade)
• Soil Needs: Well-drained; tolerates clay, sandy, or average soils
• Moisture Needs: Average; avoid standing water
• Arborist Mulch: Use a 3–4 inch deep layer of bark mulch to retain moisture and insulate roots
• Fertilization Needs: Fertilize in early spring with a balanced evergreen formula if needed
• Pruning Info: Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth; handles shearing well
• Special Perks/Growing Tips:

• Deer resistant
• Tolerant of air pollution
• Shade adaptable
• Slow-growing and easily maintained

Upright and Evergreen, Yew’ll Love This One!

For gardeners with limited space but big dreams, the Maureen Columnar Yew offers vertical beauty and year-round greenery in a no-fuss package. Whether you're creating a formal hedge, a space-saving privacy screen, or simply need an evergreen exclamation point in your landscape, this Yew is up to the task!

Order now at Nature Hills Nursery and we'll happily introduce you to this fantastic work of living art!

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast does Maureen Columnar Yew grow?
Maureen grows slowly, gaining only a few inches per year, making it easy to maintain its shape.

Is Maureen Columnar Yew deer-resistant?
Yes, like most Yews, Maureen is highly deer resistant due to its toxic foliage.

Does Maureen Yew need pruning?
Not necessarily, but it tolerates shearing well for formal hedges and columns.

Can I plant Maureen Yew in shade?
Yes! It thrives in full sun to full shade (in hotter climates), though growth is densest with more sun.

Will Maureen Yew grow in clay soil?
Yes, as long as it's well-drained. Avoid wet or compacted clay that holds water.

Does Maureen Yew produce berries?
Yes, it's a female variety and will produce small red arils (berries) if a male Yew is nearby.