Images Depict Mature Plants
Hicks Yew
Taxus x media 'Hicksii'
Hicks Yew is one of those classic shrubs that keeps earning its place because it solves real landscape problems without looking ordinary. When you need a narrow evergreen hedge or a refined screen that can handle shade, this is still one of the best tools in the box.
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A classic evergreen for formal hedges and narrow screens
A timeless evergreen with a clean upright habit.
Hicks Yew is a classic choice for homeowners who want a dense, elegant evergreen with a more refined look than many faster-growing hedge shrubs. Its dark green needles and naturally columnar growth habit give it a tailored appearance that works especially well in traditional landscapes, formal garden designs, and foundation plantings where structure matters.
Dense foliage provides strong screening.
One of the biggest advantages of Hicks Yew is its year-round fullness and substance. The foliage remains rich green through the seasons, and the plant’s upright branching helps create a hedge or screen that feels tidy, intentional, and long-lasting. It is an excellent option when the goal is privacy or backdrop planting without an overly broad footprint.
Sun and shade adaptability make it easy to place.
Hicks Yew is especially useful because it can perform in full sun, part sun, and part shade. That flexibility makes it a reliable choice for planting along foundations, beside driveways, under high tree canopies, or anywhere the light shifts through the day. In hotter settings, some afternoon relief can help it stay its best.
A strong fit for hedges, screens, and formal accents.
This shrub is ideal for formal hedges, narrow privacy screens, foundation borders, entry plantings, and as a repeated vertical accent. Because it grows upright instead of sprawling outward, Hicks Yew works well where space is limited but evergreen height and density are still needed. It also takes pruning well, which makes it easy to keep crisp and controlled.
Dependable when well sited and handled carefully.
Hicks Yew performs best in well-drained soil and does not like standing water. Once established, it is fairly low-maintenance and widely regarded as deer-resistant, though no deer-resistant claim should be treated as absolute. As a female cultivar, it may produce attractive red arils if a male yew is nearby for pollination, but it is generally grown more for foliage, form, and hedge value than for fruit display.
| Hardiness Zone: | 4-7 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 8 to 12 feet, untrimmed |
| Mature width: | 3 to 4 feet |
| Sunlight: | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil | Well-drained soil; prefers evenly moist conditions during establishment |
| Water | Moderate; water deeply until established |
| Bloom Time / Color | Not grown for ornamental flowers |
| Foliage | Dense dark green needles |
| Ornamental Features | Upright columnar habit, rich evergreen color, dense hedge form |
| Wildlife Value | Dense cover for birds |
| Resistance (deer/disease/drought/etc.) | Widely regarded as deer resistant; adaptable to shade; avoid poorly drained soils |
| Landscape Uses | Formal hedges, privacy screens, foundation plantings, vertical accents, evergreen backdrops |
How to Care for Hicks Yew
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Hicks Yew for years to come!
How should I plant Hicks Yew?
Plant Hicks Yew in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper than the root ball itself, then set the shrub level with the surrounding soil and backfill carefully. Water deeply after planting and add mulch around the root zone to help conserve moisture and reduce weed pressure, but keep mulch a few inches away from the stems. If planting a hedge, space Hicks Yew according to the fullness you want over time and allow room for mature width.
How often should I water Hicks Yew after planting?
Water Hicks Yew deeply right after planting, then continue watering regularly through the first growing season while the roots establish. The goal is evenly moist soil, not soggy soil, especially during warm weather. Once established, Hicks Yew becomes easier to manage and usually needs only supplemental watering during extended dry stretches. Good drainage remains important, since yews are much more likely to struggle in wet soil than in short periods of dryness.
When should I fertilize Hicks Yew?
Fertilize Hicks Yew in early spring as new growth begins. A balanced slow-release evergreen fertilizer is usually enough to support healthy growth and rich foliage color. Avoid overfeeding, especially late in the season. In average garden soil, Hicks Yew does not usually need heavy fertilization, and too much soft growth can make the plant less tidy and more stressed.
When and how should I prune Hicks Yew?
Prune Hicks Yew in late winter, early spring, or after the first flush of growth if shaping is needed. It responds well to trimming and is one of the better evergreen shrubs for formal hedge work. For a natural but tidy look, thin or shorten selected branches rather than shearing too aggressively every time. For formal hedges, regular light pruning helps Hicks Yew stay dense, narrow, and well defined.
