Strong Taxus with and upright growing crown of about 3 to maximum 5 m tall and quite dense branching. Initially, ‘Hicksii’ grows almost columnar, the crown later becoming narrow ovoid. The twigs are brown and, typical of this tree, they are fairly strongly undulated. The old bark is reddish brown, flaky and fibrous. On very old trees the bark is grooved. The dark green needles are of average length, but at approx. 0.25 cm wide they are relatively narrow. This female cultivar can bear lots of fruit. This consists of elliptical, brown-black seeds, 4/5 of which is enclosed by a fleshy red aril of about 0.7 cm long. Although suitable as a small tree in a garden or park, ‘Hicksii’ is first and foremost an ideal hedge conifer. As the tree tolerates heavy pruning, it is perfect for hedges and other shapes.