English Yew
Taxus baccata · Taxaceae
How it looks
English Yew is a coniferous evergreen shrub with short needle leaves arranged in two comb-like rows along the branches. The leaves are dark green with paler undersides and spread flatly from the branch. A distinctive feature is the red, cup-shaped aril (false fruit) that forms in autumn.
Deadly — cardiac arrest
The leaves, stems, and seeds (except the red aril) of English 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
English yew is the most common yew in European and garden landscaping, and it is extremely dangerous to cats. Every part but the red aril — needles, stems, and seeds — contains taxine alkaloids, and this cardiac poison can cause sudden death from a very small amount.
The genus Taxus spares no species
English yew shares the same taxine with American yew, Japanese yew, the general yew, and Pacific yew. You can't pick out a "safe" species by leaf shape or size — if it's called a yew, it's deadly.
How cats get exposed
It's used across parks, gardens, and cemetery landscaping, and in Christmas wreaths. Only the sweet-looking red aril is non-toxic, so a cat trying to eat the berry may crush the seed inside and release the poison. Wreaths and pruning clippings often bring it indoors, so clear them the moment you spot them.
How symptoms progress
Vomiting, tremors, and weakness may come first, but taxine's main target is the heart. The heartbeat slows or turns irregular, and sudden cardiac arrest can follow with no warning. Onset may be delayed up to 6–24 hours, so an initially normal cat is not a safe one.
What to do right now
If your cat chewed a leaf or seed, go to a 24-hour emergency vet immediately, symptoms or not. Do not induce vomiting at home. Record the part and amount eaten and bring the remaining plant to help the exam. With taxine poisoning, how fast treatment starts before the heart fails decides survival.
Details
- Scientific name
- Taxus baccata
- Common name
- English 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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