Appearance

Growth form

This evergreen shrub usually stays shorter than Japanese plum yew and can spread by branches rooting near the ground.

Leaves

Its needles are shorter and narrower than those of Japanese plum yew.

Fruit

Female plants form smaller fleshy-coated seeds than Japanese plum yew.

Look-alikes

Japanese plum yewCephalotaxus harringtonia

Dwarf Japanese Plum Yew is usually lower and has shorter, slimmer needles. The differences can be subtle in a close photo, so include the whole plant and a branch with a scale.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• mountain woods
• shaded gardens

Range

It is native to parts of East Asia, including Korea and Japan.

Growing it

Care

In cultivation, shaded foliage kept its color better than foliage in full sun.

Name and classification

About the name

It is also treated as a variety of Japanese plum yew, Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. nana. The garden cultivar Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Nana' should not automatically be equated with wild plants.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed