Fortune's plum yew

Cephalotaxus fortunei

Shrub6×4 mzone 7–10full shade

Will it grow where I live?

Fortune's plum yew is hardy to zone 7: lowlands, river valleys and cities across Central Europe are fine, harsher continental or upland sites need winter protection or a container. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Cephalotaxaceae
Habit: Shrub
Height: 6 m
Spread: 4 m
Growth: very slow
Lifespan: 150 years
First yield: after 7 years
Hardiness: zone 7–10
Shade tolerance: full shade
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture: semi-dry – very moist
pH: 5 – 7

evergreensuitable for hedges

Uses

Edible4 of 10

Medicinal2 of 10

Other uses5 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Fortune's plum yew: how big does it get?

Fortune's plum yew (Cephalotaxus fortunei) grows as a Shrub and reaches roughly 6 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 4 m. Growth is very slow.

Fortune's plum yew: what site does it need?

Fortune's plum yew tolerates full shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5 and 7.

Fortune's plum yew: is it hardy?

Fortune's plum yew is listed as hardy in zone 7–10 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Fortune's plum yew: will it grow in Central Europe?

Fortune's plum yew: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Fortune's plum yew. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Fortune's plum yew: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 4/10, Medicinal 2/10, Other uses 5/10.

Community experience

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