Japanese nutmeg-yew

Profile

Family

Taxaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

20 m

Spread

10 m

Growth

very slow

Lifespan

1000 years

First yield

after 15 years

Hardiness

zone 7–9

Shade tolerance

full shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very moist

pH

5.5 – 7.5

Synonyms

Taxus nucifera

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Seeds (raw or roasted) result in oil that has a pleasant, fragrant, and resinous flavor.

Medicinal: Seeds possess deworming properties and the plant also has a calming effect, aids digestion, and functions as a laxative.

Other uses: Oilwood is the most valuable Japanese wood, prized for its elasticity, hardness, durability, fine grain, and color. It is utilized for fuel and charcoal production.

Growing

Thrives in regular garden soil, tolerates some lime, but prefers acidic soil and dislikes wind. Requires a sheltered location with high humidity or moist soil near a river, and tolerates forest shade well. Best growth occurs in hot, very humid summers. Trees may not be fully cold-resistant in all parts of Germany but can thrive in northern regions. In 1970, a tree at Wakehurst Place reached a height of 11 meters. A shrub at Kew, growing in the shade of conifers, measured approximately 2.5 meters tall and 4 meters wide in September 1993, bearing a heavy fruit load. However, no fruit was observed in 1994. Another specimen at Cambridge Botanic Gardens was 6 meters tall and wide, producing a significant seed load in late summer 1996. This plant shows promising potential as a nut crop in Germany. The 'Shibunashigaya' variety is cultivated in Japan for its edible seeds, known for its superior seed production. Seeds require two summers to ripen. The plants are dioecious, necessitating both male and female plants for seed production. Occasionally, trees exhibit monoecious characteristics with dioecious branches. Some individual trees have shown heavy yields of fertile seeds multiple times, suggesting the tree is not hermaphroditic.

Propagation

Seeds should be sown immediately after reaching maturity in a cool environment. While some seeds may sprout the following spring, most will likely need an additional 12 months. Stored seeds need cold stratification and can take 18 months or longer to germinate. Once seedlings show growth, transplant them into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a greenhouse for at least two more winters, repotting them into larger containers as necessary. By early summer, when the plants are at least 20 cm tall, they can be planted in their permanent spot. For propagation, take cuttings from semi-ripe shoots in the late summer, although cuttings may not root well. Layering.

Notable

Special features: Needles are very prickly; needs a moist, warm, and protected location; the tree is actually heterosexual. However, there have been some specimens that bear both sexes and are thus self-fertile.

Origin & habitat

East Asia - Central and Southern Japan.

In most well-drained soils, viburnum bushes can be commonly found in hedges and woodlands, often dominating as the undergrowth shrub.

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