Taxus — 14 species

Taxus is a genus of around 10 evergreen conifers and sprawling shrubs — including Canadian Yew, Pacific Yew, Chinese Yew, and Himalayan Yew — valued for their dense, dark-green needles, slow growth, and remarkable longevity. They are exceptionally adaptable to light conditions, tolerating everything from full sun to deep shade, and prefer moist, well-drained soil with minimal irrigation once established. All Taxus species are highly toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA-confirmed); every part of the plant, including foliage and seeds, contains taxine alkaloids that can cause acute cardiac failure.