78. Irish Yew

Tree Tour

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Cross into the old part of the Medicinal Herb Garden, and meet four Irish Yews that separate sections A and B. The two in the middle are golden, the others regular green. Irish yew originated before 1760 in the mountains above Florence Court, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland. It was simply a narrow sport of the common yew of Eurasia. Its shape, perfect for formal designs and tight places, led to it being planted abundantly. It is especially common in old neighborhoods and cemeteries. Yew is poisonous, so don't eat the slimy red berries. Its wood is very hard, heavy, dark, fine, lovely and useful. The invaluable taxol alkaloid in the bark of our native Pacific Coast species generated lively publicity about yews in recent years.

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