Japanese Plum Yew reminds the grower of Taxus spp. in form and appearance, but needs more aggressive pruning to stay dense. They are far more deer resistant and adapted to warmer, more humid climates than Taxus, however. ‘Duke Gardens’ was discovered at its namesake in 1958 as a sport off of the much more upright selection ‘Fastigiata.’ ‘Duke Gardens’ is vase shaped and forms well into horizontal hedges and borders. This selection is a male and will not produce fruit.
