{"product_id":"golden-japanese-yew","title":"Golden Japanese Yew","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Large Gold-Foliage Yew for Minnesota Shaded Borders\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGolden Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata 'Aurea') brings broad gold-foliage structure to a yew large enough to anchor a planting. Whether you are anchoring a Wayzata shaded border, filling a Minnetonka woodland edge, or adding gold to a Minneapolis foundation — Golden Japanese Yew gets the job done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGolden Japanese 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 cuspidata 'Aurea'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGolden Japanese 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\u003e5-8 ft tall × 6-10 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\u003eGolden Japanese 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 Golden Japanese 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 Golden Japanese 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 Golden Japanese 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 Golden Japanese Yew and similar shrubs?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLarger gold-foliage yew with broad spreading habit. This makes it a strong choice when you want gold-foliage, evergreen, shade-tolerant in a Minnesota-tested plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Golden Japanese 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. Golden Japanese 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 Golden Japanese 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 Golden Japanese 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 Golden Japanese 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 Golden Japanese Yew Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 6–10 feet wide, Golden Japanese Yew is a broad anchor shrub. For an informal gold screen or border backbone, space plants 6 feet on center:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRun Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed (6 ft spacing)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–4 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–7 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost yards use it as a single specimen — give it a clear 8–10 foot circle so the broad spreading habit can develop, or shear it smaller as a formal anchor. It takes hard pruning better than almost any evergreen, so it can be held at hedge scale indefinitely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGolden Japanese Yew Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e New growth flushes bright gold over the older foliage in late May — the strongest color of the year, even in partial shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soft, layered gold-green needles build a dense, broad mound that reads as structure, not just color, in a shaded border.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Holds its evergreen color while the woodland edge around it turns and drops; a quiet gold backdrop for fall-color shrubs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen through -25°F — gold-tinged structure under snow in shaded beds where little else stays green. Fence or repel deer in tough winters.\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\/dwarf-bright-gold-japanese-yew\"\u003eDwarf Bright Gold Japanese Yew\u003c\/a\u003e — the same gold yew look in a compact front-row size; layer the two for depth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/emerald-spreader-yew\"\u003eEmerald Spreader Yew\u003c\/a\u003e — a low, deep-green spreading yew to carpet the ground in front of the gold anchor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/flowerfull-hydrangea\"\u003eFlowerfull Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — white summer mopheads that thrive in the same part-shade beds and pop against gold foliage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/garden-glow-dogwood\"\u003eGarden Glow Dogwood\u003c\/a\u003e — fellow shade-tolerant gold foliage plus red winter stems for a coordinated shade palette.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Golden Japanese Yew Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Golden Japanese Yew if you need real evergreen structure — with gold color, no less — in part shade to deep shade, under mature trees, or in the dry strip under roof eaves where most evergreens fail. It needs decent drainage and room (or annual shearing) for its 6–10 ft spread. It's not a fit for soggy ground, for unprotected high-deer-pressure yards in hard winters, or for households where the highly toxic foliage and berries would be in reach of curious kids or pets.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#3 Gallon","offer_id":54148905238833,"sku":"E3080","price":100.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/Golden_japanese_yew_4_01e847ba-714a-4a40-8479-c699a4b0d8b4.jpg?v=1778267290","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/golden-japanese-yew","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}