Fruit
Yew
Taxus baccata L. · common yew, English yew, European yew · Polish: Cis pospolity
Deadly poisonous Partially protected
How to identify it
- Evergreen shrub or tree; needles spirally arranged, 2–3 cm long.
- Bark reddish-brown, peeling in thin flakes.
- Seed surrounded by a red, fleshy, cup-shaped aril (it looks like a berry); ripens in August–September.
- Male and female plants are separate — ‘berries’ only on female plants.
Where it grows
In the wild, most often found in the western, northern and southern parts of the country.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yew a protected species?
Yes, it is partially protected under the Polish regulation on the protection of plant species (rozporządzenie w sprawie ochrony gatunkowej roślin, Dz.U. 2014 poz. 1409).
Sources
- Wikipedia: Cis pospolity
- PSSE Szczytno: Te rośliny omijaj z daleka – są trujące (19.07.2023)
- Rozporządzenie Ministra Środowiska z 9 października 2014 r. w sprawie ochrony gatunkowej roślin (Dz.U. 2014 poz. 1409)
Last checked: 9 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to us.