Quick answer: Canada yew (Taxus canadensis) is native to 18 states. What's commonly sold under this name is the true wild species. No live listing of the true species was found as of 16 Sep 2026.
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)
Where it's native
Listed in the directory as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Sun, Part Shade, Shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Medium |
| Soil | Moist sands or sandy loams |
| Bloom | Mar-May |
| Height | Up to 6 ft |
| Wildlife value | Birds eat red berry-like fruit |
Bark, leaves, and seed pit highly toxic and potentially fatal if ingested; symptoms: nervousness, trembling, slow pulse, pupil dilation, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, convulsions; only the red aril flesh is edible, the green seed is poisonous
Buying it
No live listing of the true wild species was found as of 16 Sep 2026 — that means our last search didn't surface one, not that the plant is unavailable.
No live seed or plant listing found as of 16 Sep 2026. That means our last search didn't surface one — not that the plant is unavailable. Try a regional native-plant nursery.
Quick answers about Canada yew
Where is Canada yew native?
Canada yew (Taxus canadensis) is native to 18 states across the Northeast, Midwest and South. Check your state's page in this directory for the full list of plants native where you live.
When does Canada yew bloom?
Canada yew blooms Mar-May. Exact timing shifts a few weeks with latitude and elevation.
What growing conditions does Canada yew need?
Light: Sun, Part Shade, Shade. Water: Medium. Soil: Moist sands or sandy loams. Mature height: Up to 6 ft.
Is Canada yew good for pollinators and wildlife?
Yes. Wildlife value: Birds eat red berry-like fruit.
Is Canada yew deer-resistant or drought-tolerant?
Canada yew is tolerates shade.
Is Canada yew toxic?
Bark, leaves, and seed pit highly toxic and potentially fatal if ingested; symptoms: nervousness, trembling, slow pulse, pupil dilation, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, convulsions; only the red aril flesh is edible, the green seed is poisonous.
Where can I buy Canada yew?
We haven't found an online listing of the true wild species as of 16 Sep 2026. A regional native-plant nursery or native seed company is your best source; ask for Taxus canadensis by its scientific name.
Similar native plants
Native plants that share growing conditions or range with Canada yew.
- Hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus
- Eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens
- Lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium
- Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
- Steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa
- Swamp rose Rosa palustris
Also listed under
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