American Yew
Taxus canadensis · Taxaceae
How it looks
American Yew is a needle-leaved evergreen shrub with short needles arranged like a comb along the branches. It closely resembles English yew but is lower-growing, with branches spreading sideways and slightly shorter leaves. A distinctive feature is the red cup-shaped aril that forms in autumn.
Deadly — cardiac arrest
The leaves, stems, and seeds (except the red aril) of American Yew contain taxine alkaloids; ingestion can lead to tremors, difficulty breathing, and cardiac arrest.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- 6–24 hours after ingestion (symptoms may be delayed)
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, tremors, difficulty breathing, cardiac failure
- Action
- Go to a 24-hour animal hospital immediately. Don't wait, even if there are no symptoms.
Guide for parents
American yew is a conifer you should keep out of any home or garden shared with a cat. The needles, stems, and seeds — including the seed inside the red berry-like aril — all contain taxine alkaloids, which attack the heart directly and can cause sudden death with no warning signs.
The whole genus Taxus shares the same poison
It isn't just American yew. Japanese yew, English yew, the general yew, and Pacific yew all carry the same taxine toxin. You don't need to tell the species apart — treat any tree called a yew as deadly to cats.
How cats get exposed
Yews are common as garden trees, hedges, and holiday greenery. Only the soft red aril around the seed is non-toxic, which tempts a cat to bite the berry — and crushing the seed inside releases the poison. Fallen twigs and pruning clippings stay just as toxic, so don't leave them on the ground.
How symptoms progress
Within a few hours you may see vomiting, tremors, and lethargy, but taxine's real danger is cardiac. The heart rate slows, arrhythmias develop, and cardiac arrest can strike suddenly with no obvious warning. Signs may also appear late (6–24 hours), so a cat that looks fine is not necessarily safe.
What to do right now
If your cat chewed any part — leaf or seed — don't wait for symptoms. Get to a 24-hour emergency vet immediately, and do not induce vomiting at home. If you can, note which part and how much was eaten and bring a piece of the plant; it helps guide treatment. With taxine poisoning, arriving before the heart fails is what matters.
Details
- Scientific name
- Taxus canadensis
- Common name
- American Yew
- Family
- Taxaceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts (except the red aril)
- Compounds
- Taxine alkaloids
- Source
- ASPCA
Related plants
Same plant family· Taxaceae
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