The yew ‘Hicksii’ (Taxus media) is one of the very few conifers that can grow in the most complete shade. Its bushy, evergreen structure makes the yew the only edible plant (be careful, see warning) that can form a four-season privacy hedge, in the shade of skyscrapers, or hide a heat pump, an air conditioner or your recycling/composting bins, especially since it has the advantage, unlike the thuja (cedar), of regenerating new shoots all over its branches. It can therefore be pruned without worry, to give it the desired shape, regardless of the season. A good choice for creating topiaries. When you see a conifer shaped like a dolphin… it’s probably this one. Tolerates air pollution and acidic, well-drained soils, even rather dry ones.

The yew ‘Hicksii’ has a columnar shape, ideal for a narrow hedge, and benefits from accelerated growth compared to the normally slow species. Warning: all parts of the yew, except the red aril surrounding the pit, are highly poisonous. The pit, if bitten, releases a problematic toxicity… To enjoy its pulpy flesh, there must be at least one male and one female for pollination, the females bearing the fruit. A treat to chew without remorse, without gelatin or added coloring, which will please those nostalgic for gummies. You could pick its natural candies under the canopy of your food forest.