yew, any tree or shrub of the genus Taxus (family Taxaceae), approximately eight species of ornamental evergreens, distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Other trees called yew but not in this genus are the plum-yew, Prince Albert yew (see Podocarpaceae), and stinking yew.

Is Canada Yew a tree?

Canada Yew is a conifer found in swampy areas, ravines, stream banks and lakeshores in Canada and the U.S.A. It ranges in from Manitoba, Minnesota and Iowa eastward to the coast and south as far as Tennessee and North Carolina. In NC it is found in the mountains.

Are yews native?

Taxus canadensis, the Canada yew or Canadian yew, is a conifer native to central and eastern North America, thriving in swampy woods, ravines, riverbanks and on lake shores. Locally called simply “yew”, this species is also referred to as American yew or ground-hemlock.