Creeping Japanese Plum Yew

Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Prostrata’

Other Names: Spreading Japanese Plum Yew, Creeping Yew, Spreading Yew

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a–9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub or Groundcover

Height at Maturity: 12-24″

Width at Maturity: 3-4′

Spacing: 3′ for mass plantings; 6′ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Arching, Cascading, Mounding, Pendulous Branches, Spreading/Trailing,

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: NA

Flower Size: NA

Flowering Period: NA

Flower Type: NA

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Deep Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: Fruits on female plants

Berry Color: Plum

Sun Needs: Morning Sun With Afternoon Shade, Shade or Mostly Shade, Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist to Dry when established

Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0 (Acid to Slightly Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Drought, Dry Soil, Heat, Heavy Shade, Insect

Description

One of if not our favorite of evergreen groundcover plants, the Creeping Plum Yew, Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Prostrata’, is an elegant plant with a spreading habit and attractive arching branches covered with glossy, flattened, very deep green needles that provides a unique texture all its own in the landscape. It will thrive in heavy shade to part shade in USDA zones 8 and 9 and we hear it will tolerate full to mostly sun in zones 6 and 7. One way or another though, we think this plant looks better in the shade, or morning sun with afternoon shade, and its unique foliage compliments all other plants in the shade garden. Excellent under large shade trees and anywhere there’s shade. Looks especially nice around boulders or cascading over walls. In case you were wondering, the word “plum” in the name comes from the purple-red fruits that are produced on female plants.

NOTE: So that those of you who are considering purchasing this plant from us will know what to expect when you receive and open the box, we took a picture of an average sized 1-gallon plant on our nursery and have posted it below. The plants we ship could be smaller or larger than the one pictured. This groundcover variety of plum yew is one that will never look as large and full growing in a container as it does in the ground. Once planted in the ground, the creeping plum yew will grow much more dense, reaching a height of 18-24 inches and a width of 3 feet or so.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing in a spreading mound to 18 to 24 inches tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, the Creeping Japanese Plum Yew is ideal for use in groupings or mass plantings in shady to partly shaded landscape borders and home foundation plantings. It is an excellent choice for an evergreen groundcover under the canopies of large trees. Looks very nice around garden ponds or in shady rock gardens near boulders. Also suitable as a solor or combined with other plants in pots, planters and other containers. A fine addition to Asian gardens, perennial shade gardens, rock gardens, tropical look gardens, wildlife gardens, and Xeriscape ardens (Low Water needs)

Spacing: 3 feet for mass plantings; 6 feet or more for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden North of USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Plum Yew is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Creeping Plum Yew grows best in well-drained sandy soils but will adapt to any well-drained soil. Where climates are cool during summer it can be planted in full sun, but otherwise prefers some shade, preferably in the afternoon. We’ve seen no serious disease or insect problems and it is a very deer resistant plant.

Note: For helpful advice provided by our experts, click on the Planting & Care tab above on desktops and below on mobile phones.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to get helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Plum Yews.

How To Plant & Care For Plum Yews

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Questions? Contact Us!

Plant was delivered in excellent shape, looking vibrant and fresh, as green as could be.
Packaging was well done. Very satisfied.—————————————–Thanks for the awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The lush plant arrived cushioned in a special box supporting it. It was in perfect condition and seems to be thriving in its new home. Communications from Wilson were spot on letting me know the arrival time.————————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

We received 6 (1 gal) plants. All were packaged very securely with minor damage to some boxes but none to plants. They appear healthy and vigorous. They will create a nice low border to our perennial bed.. shipping was fast and we will definitely order more plants in the future. Highly recommend Wilson Bros.———————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

These plum yews arrived in good shape. They make a nice, graceful addition to our waterfall Zen Garden. Impossible to find locally.———————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Arrived in excellent condition.——————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

I have bought several plants from Wilson Brothers and they all were delivered quickly and in great condition. The packaging is great and keeps the plants moist. I plan to order more plants from them in the near future.———————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Plants were fairly priced, packed safely, arrived in a timely manner and were healthy. They are planted on a bank and new growth is flourishing.—————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Brought Japanese Creeping Yew love them, they are doing great, shipping package that plants came in was perfect.———————————–We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

My plants arrived promptly and extremely well packed. I had them in the ground the next day and look forward to watching them grow. Thanks for such good service.———————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Beautiful plant. Arrived in beautiful condition and is thriving. Wish I’d ordered more – but I’m headed to your site to do just that now! Wilson Bros is absolutely the BEST!—————————————We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

Plant arrived on time and well packaged. It was healthy looking. I planted it and it is doing fine. If it does well I will probably purchase more. I have never been disappointed with Wilson Bros Gardens, yet. One of my favorite on-line sites for plants. Thank you.————————-We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

I’ve purchased 5 plum yews in 2 separate orders. All 5 have been lovely plants which were carefully packed and quickly shipped. Wilson Bros is now my “go to” for shrubs, and I’ll be ordering more in the near future.—————————————Hi Sandra, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Creeping Japanese Plum Yew. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

I’ve never purchased plants on the internet before, and was a bit skeptical about the outcome. I’m happy to say, I made a good call choosing Wilson Brothers! The plants came on time, packed perfectly and are beautiful!
Thanks so much, You have a loyal mail order customer!
Tami—————————————-Hi Tami, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Creeping Japanese Plum Yew. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

A little sparse, but I’m sure they will fill out. One of the two plants had a major “limb” broken off in packing/shipping.———————————–WBG Reply: Hi Martha, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Creeping Japanese Plum Yew. As far as being sparse, that’s just how these particular plants grow in containers, and you are right, they will fill out once planted. And as far as the broken limb, please contact us, if you would like a replacement. We hope you enjoy them for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

These yews arrived in beautiful condition! Healthy plants. Can’t wait to plant them. If they do well, I just might have to order more! 🙂 Thank you!————————-WBG Reply: Hi Sharon, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Creeping Plum Yew. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

I have been looking for this plant for over a month. The creeping yew came packed perfectly and all arrived in great shape and very healthy. They have a ton of new growth on them and they are still in the pot .

VERY pleased with your personalized service to help me receive the exact plant I was seeking. It is EXACTLY what I wanted, and I plan to continue using your services.

Fast shipping. Plants were well wrapped and protected. The individual plants were healthy, transplanted into beds with no loss in spite of a severe winter.

The plant arrived on time and in excellent condition. I am very happy with the quality of the plant and service that I received.

The plants were a little small but healthy and fully rooted in one gallon pots. Can not complain though because I couldn’t find this plant anywhere else. I talked to Spencer at Wilson Bros Gardens and he told me they do not grow full in pots but will fill out nicely when planted in the ground. Anyway, I am happy to have found them and will buy other plants from this nursery.