Taxus canadensis Canadian yew (Taxaceae) Evergreen tree

Browse Plants Articles

Power Search!

Browse Botanic Names

Sponsored By KhorWills

Taxus canadensis
Canadian yew
Evergreen tree
(1 Page of 5)

The Taxus canadensis plant species is found in Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Western Virginia, Manitoba, Kentucky and Iowa. It is a member of the Taxaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Canadian yew.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Taxus canadensis
Common Name:  Canadian yew
Family:  Taxaceae
Author:  Marsh.

Known Hazards:  All parts of the plant, except the flesh of the fruit, are highly poisonous[1, 4, 7, 10, 19, 65].

Mature Height:  6   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Rich woods and thickets[43].

Medicinal Information: The Canadian yew is a very poisonous plant, though it was employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used minute amounts of the leaves both internally and externally in order to treat a variety of complaints including rheumatism, fevers, influenza, expelling afterbirth and dispelling clots[213, 222, 257]. Modern research has shown that it contains the substance 'taxol' in its shoots and bark. Taxol has shown exciting potential as an anti-cancer drug, particularly in the treatment of ovarian cancers[222, 238]. This remedy is very toxic and, even when used externally, should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[238]. See also the notes above on toxicity. The plant is abortifacient, analgesic, antirheumatic, antitumor, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge and pectoral[257].

For further Taxus canadensis gardening information
click on one of the blue links below

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
View their bibliography
Useful Edible Plants Future