We’ve always loved false plum yews of the Asian genus, Cephalotaxus, which contains only eight species. In garden and nurseries, you’re most likely to see selections of the species, Cephalotaxus harrgintonia (or harringtonii), especially dwarf or columnar forms. Many years ago, I was enchanted by this wonderful form of the straight species, Cephalotaxus harrgintonia ssp. harringtonia, that was growing at the SC Botanical Garden. We were gifted cuttings, which now grow happily at JLBG. The photo below is a four year old plant, now 6′ tall x 6′ wide, grown from a rooted cutting in a 1 quart pot, so you can see it grows quite quickly. This should mature out around 30′ tall. To us, it has the superficial appearance of a fir, so it has the potential for use as a Christmas tree, in addition to being a superlative screening plant. We think this is deserving of distribution to the nursery industry, so that others may enjoy it. A cultivar name will be coming soon.
Love It.
Will you offer it? I would love to try it! Cephalotaxus, the prostrate form, has been wonderfully deer resistant here in southwestern Virginia.
Most likely, we will propagate some for the Southeastern Plant Sympsosium auction