Plant primer: Dwarf golden Japanese yew

Height: 2 to 3 feet

Spread: 3 to 4 feet

Hardiness: Zones 4-7

Origin: Asia

This isn’t the same old yew of yesteryear. The dwarf golden Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata ‘Nana Aurescens’) is a lovely evergreen shrub that has some interesting qualities.

In the spring, it bursts with golden new growth that matures to dark green. The plant is compact, grows slowly and rarely needs pruned. It prefers soil that drains well. It makes a colorful statement in a mixed garden border or as part of a foundation planting bed.

A dwarf golden Japanese yew can be seen in full spring color in the Crane Conifer and Ornamental Grass Collection at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

— Barbara Arnold, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens