{"product_id":"emerald-spreader-yew","title":"Emerald Spreader Yew","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Low Wide Yew for Minnesota Ground-Level Structure\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmerald Spreader Yew (Taxus × media 'Emerald Spreader') is the lowest-growing landscape yew — ideal where height needs to stay below 2-3 feet but width of 4-6 feet is welcome. Whether you are softening a Minneapolis foundation, filling a low Edina border, or anchoring a shaded Plymouth bed — Emerald Spreader gets the job done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEmerald Spreader Yew Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTaxus × media 'Emerald Spreader'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEmerald Spreader Yew\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2-3 ft tall × 4-6 ft wide\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow to moderate — 6-12 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull to partial shade — one of the few evergreens that thrives in Minnesota shade. Tolerates full sun with adequate moisture.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Tolerates short dry spells once established.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4-7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a). Reliable to -25°F.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTolerates Minnesota clay-loam. Best in well-drained soil — avoid sites with standing water.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen — soft dark-green needles, holds color through Minnesota winters\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -25°F.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIMPORTANT: Yew foliage is highly toxic if browsed — but deer often eat it anyway in tough winters. Protect with deer fence in high-pressure areas.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEmerald Spreader Yew Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShade evergreen — rare in Minnesota\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost evergreens want full sun. Yews are one of the few that thrive in deep shade under mature oaks and maples — invaluable for shaded foundation beds and woodland edges in Edina, Minnetonka, and Wayzata.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFoundation plantings under roof eaves\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYews handle the dry \"rain shadow\" under roof eaves better than most evergreens. Deep, fibrous root systems and shade tolerance make them a reliable foundation choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHedges and screens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYews respond well to shearing and make tight, formal hedges. Use spreading types as low border hedges (2-3 ft) or upright\/columnar types for taller screens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Emerald Spreader Yew in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFall (late August–early October) is the ideal planting window.\u003c\/strong\u003e Soil is still warm for root development, cool air reduces transplant stress, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before ground freeze (typically mid-November in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May) is the second-best window\u003c\/strong\u003e — the plant gets the full growing season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid summer planting (June–August) when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Emerald Spreader Yew\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDig wide, not deep.\u003c\/strong\u003e 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container. Heavy clay benefits from even wider digging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCheck drainage.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fill the hole with water — if it doesn't drain in 30 minutes, mound-plant or break through any clay hardpan to improve drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBackfill with native soil + 20–30% compost.\u003c\/strong\u003e Minnesota clay-loam benefits from organic amendment but don't create a \"container\" of pure compost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing.\u003c\/strong\u003e Refer to the mature width above and space accordingly. Closer for hedging, wider for individual specimen plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater basin.\u003c\/strong\u003e Build a 3–4 inch ring around the planting to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove before winter to avoid ice damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMulch.\u003c\/strong\u003e 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Emerald Spreader Yew in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes per plant)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages ~3 inches\/month June–August)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze\u003c\/strong\u003e (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro) to avoid pushing late-season growth that gets killed by winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished plants only need supplemental water during droughts (2+ weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Water deeply and infrequently — every 7–14 days during dry spells, soaking to 6–8 inches depth. Let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePruning Note\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrune in late spring after new growth flushes. Yews tolerate hard pruning better than most evergreens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the difference between Emerald Spreader Yew and similar shrubs?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLowest-growing spreading yew with bright emerald-green color. This makes it a strong choice when you want spreading, low-growing, evergreen in a Minnesota-tested plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Emerald Spreader Yew survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — 4-7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a). Reliable to -25°F. Emerald Spreader Yew is among the most reliable yews for Twin Cities zone 4b–5a yards. First-year plants benefit from a deep mulch ring and adequate fall watering before ground freeze.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Emerald Spreader Yew deer-resistant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIMPORTANT: Yew foliage is highly toxic if browsed — but deer often eat it anyway in tough winters. Protect with deer fence in high-pressure areas. In high-pressure areas like Minnetonka, Wayzata, Eden Prairie, or Chanhassen, plan accordingly — deer fencing or repellent for the first year is a worthwhile insurance policy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes Emerald Spreader Yew tolerate Minnesota clay soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTolerates Minnesota clay-loam. Best in well-drained soil — avoid sites with standing water. At planting, dig wide (2–3× the root ball width) and amend with 20–30% compost. Avoid creating a sunken \"container\" of pure compost in the clay — the plant should transition gradually to native soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen is the best time to plant Emerald Spreader Yew in Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFall (late August through early October) is the ideal planting window — soil is still warm for root development, cool air reduces transplant stress, and plants get 6–8 weeks to establish before ground freeze. Spring (late April through May) is the second-best window.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/shrubs\"\u003eShop all Three Timbers Minnesota shrubs\u003c\/a\u003e — full catalog of zone 4-hardy shrubs for Twin Cities yards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/deer-resistant\"\u003eDeer-Resistant Plants\u003c\/a\u003e — for high-pressure suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/winter-interest\"\u003eWinter Interest Plants\u003c\/a\u003e — plants that look great through Minnesota's five-month winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/find-my-plant\"\u003eFind Your Perfect Plant\u003c\/a\u003e — answer 5 questions and we'll recommend a plant for your yard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Emerald Spreader Yew Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a low foundation hedge or border row, space plants about 4 feet apart (center to center) — they'll knit into a continuous 2–3 foot evergreen band:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRun Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor filling a shaded bed, set them on a 4–5 foot grid; a single plant eventually carpets a 4–6 foot circle, so resist the urge to crowd — it's the widest-for-its-height yew in the catalog.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEmerald Spreader Yew Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bright emerald new growth flushes over the older dark needles — the freshest color of the year. Shear after the flush if you want a formal edge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dense, soft-needled green carpet that thrives where most evergreens sulk — deep shade under oaks and the dry rain shadow beneath roof eaves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Holds clean dark green while the deciduous bed turns; water well before freeze-up so needles stay hydrated through winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low evergreen structure that keeps shaded foundation beds alive-looking under snow, reliable to -25°F.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Shade-Tolerant   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dark-green-spreader-yew\"\u003eDark Green Spreader Yew\u003c\/a\u003e — a slightly taller spreading yew to step the evergreen band up toward the house.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dwarf-bright-gold-japanese-yew\"\u003eDwarf Bright Gold Japanese Yew\u003c\/a\u003e — gold-tipped needles that light up against Emerald Spreader's deep green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/stonehenge-yew\"\u003eStonehenge Yew\u003c\/a\u003e — a columnar exclamation point rising from the low spreading carpet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/drama-queen-hydrangea\"\u003eDrama Queen Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — big summer mophead blooms for the same sheltered part-shade bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Emerald Spreader Yew Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the pick when you need a flat, wide evergreen for shade — under windows, beneath mature trees, or in the dry strip under eaves — in well-drained soil where it can spread 4–6 feet. It's not a fit for soggy ground (yews hate standing water) or unprotected high-deer-pressure yards: despite its toxic foliage, hungry winter deer browse yews anyway, so plan on fencing or repellent in Minnetonka- or Wayzata-level deer country.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54148904550705,"sku":"E3070","price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/Emerald_spreader_yew_5_599be5f7-213c-4d29-92a6-ad6cbbcf1280.jpg?v=1778267277","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/emerald-spreader-yew","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}