Flora of the Southeastern United States

Taxus canadensis Marshall. Common name: Canada Yew, American Yew. Phenology: Apr-May. Habitat: Cliffs, bluffs, and rocky slopes over calcareous or mafic rocks, red spruce and hemlock swamps and bogs. Distribution: NL (Newfoundland), NL (Labrador), MN, and s. MB south to nw. NC, ne. TN, KY, and IA. Taxus was first found in NC in 1968 (McDowell 1969). In our region, Taxus canadensis occurs primarily on limestone and mafic bluffs, but at its southernmost site in the hanging valley of Long Hope Creek (Ashe and Watauga counties, NC), it is found in red spruce swamps and fen edges (over mafic substrates), where it is locally common. Deer have a devastating effect on populations of this species in our area.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, F, FNA2, G, Il, K4, Mi, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, Tn, Va, W, WV, Farjon (1998), Möller et al (2020); = n/a — RAB, Tat; = Taxus baccata L. ssp. canadensis (Marshall) Pilg.; > Taxus canadensis Marshall var. adpressa (Carrière) Spjut — Spjut (2007a), Spjut (2007b); > Taxus canadensis Marshall var. canadensis — Spjut (2007a), Spjut (2007b); > Taxus canadensis Marshall var. minor (Michx.) Spujt — Spjut (2007a), Spjut (2007b). Basionym: Taxus canadensis Marshall 1785

Links to other floras: = Taxus canadensis - FNA2

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
• Great Plains: FAC
• Midwest: FACU
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 3