Taxus Baccata Fastigiata Robusta Irish Yew

Taxus Baccata Fastigiata Robusta is a slow-growing evergreen columnar yew with dark green needles that brings valuable vertical structure to the garden without width.

Taxus Baccata Fastigiata is the Irish Yew (Hibernica) which naturally has a tall, thin growing habit, but this variety, Taxus Baccata Fastigiata Robusta, is even more columnar with tightly packed, longer and more fanned-out needles. This evergreen conifer was found in the wild in Switzerland in the 1900s and because it’s more tolerant of harsh sun than Taxus Baccata, it’s more popular in sun-soaked formal gardens.

Irish Yew Robusta reaches 1.5 metres, but only 50 centimetres in spread, so it’s a thin fastigiate variety that’s excellent in compact spaces. Its hardy nature tolerates drought, pollution and exposure, but it’s dense dark green needles are glossy and highly attractive.

Female plants produce bee-friendly but insignificant flowers in spring and bright red berries in autumn.

Height and Spread of Taxus Baccata Fastigiata Robusta
Irish Yew Robusta reaches 1.5 metres tall but only 50 centimetres in width over 10 years. It grows this shape naturally, without any trimming.

How Hardy Is Taxus Baccata Fastigiata Robusta
This is a very tough plant with the RHS hardiness label H7, which is the hardiest they list. It will tolerate the coldest temperatures, exposure, and some drought once established. It also copes well with pollution and sun exposure.

How To Use Taxus Baccata Fastigiata Robusta
Irish Yew Robusta is an excellent choice for a punctuating feature. Its columnar habit suits compact gardens and small borders because it bringing height without spread. It suits mixed winter borders, rockeries, Japanese-style gardens, Italian formal spaces, and elegantly hides an ugly structure such as a shed without taking up much width.
Small front garden benefits from Irish Yew Robusta’s tough but slimline profile and it will grow in a well-watered and fed container on a balcony or deck too.
Yew is very low maintenance, and wildlife friendly, so it is a good choice for busy gardeners who enjoy attractive outdoor spaces, but have little time to spend outside.

How To Care for Taxus Baccata Fastigiata Robusta
Although Irish Yew Fastigiata looks as if it needs regular trims and hard work, it actually needs very little attention because it naturally grows in a 50 centimetre wide column.
Choose a well-drained spot in any type of soil except water-logged areas and it with thrive in full sun to partial shade.
Give it plenty of water until established and a thick layer of well-rotted organic matter around its roots in early spring. Container grow yew require regular fertiliser and water.