ornamental shrub
Japanese plum yew
A shade-tolerant evergreen shrub for screening and foundation beds.
Growing Profile
- Hardiness
- Zones 6a-9b
- Sun
- PartialFull
- Soil
- LoamClay
- Water
- Medium
- Deer pressure
- Frequently damaged Use as a deer browsing cue, not a guarantee; heavy deer pressure can override resistance ratings.
- Black walnut
- Juglone-sensitive Use as a black walnut / juglone planning cue; tolerance varies by cultivar, soil, and distance from the tree.
- Planting depth
- Set the crown or top of root ball level with the surrounding soil.
- Container min
- 10+ gal (workable)
- Goals
- Curb appeal & colorPrivacy & screening
Harvest & Use
- Window
- evergreen needles
- Yield return
- 75-120 lb/plant/year
- First output
- 4-5 yrs
- Best for
- Curb appeal & colorPrivacy & screening
Harvest window: evergreen needles. Once established, the current pound-return model uses 75-120 lb/plant/year with a harvest window of 4-16 weeks.
Plant photos
What it looks like in the garden
Use these photos to compare the plant's leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and overall habit before you buy or plant.
Photos show a representative plant in the garden. Cultivar appearance, fruit color, bloom timing, and growth habit can vary by site and season.
Photo sources: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quantitative Profile
- Pound return
- 75-120 lb/plant/year
- 10-year return
- 375-600 lb/10 yrs
- Full output
- 6-8 yrs
- Mature size
- 12-20 ft H x 12-20 ft W
- Spacing
- 14-20 ft in-row x 20-25 ft rows
- Planting depth
- Set the crown or top of root ball level with the surrounding soil.
- Container min
- 10+ gal (workable)
- Productive life
- 12-20 yrs
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Data quality
- Medium profile, Medium yield confidence
Pound return is the stock-style yield metric. These are planning ranges for comparing plants, not guarantees. Cultivar, rootstock, climate, soil, pruning, pest pressure, and wildlife can move actual results.
Planting Checklist
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Right-size container with drainage
Containers / Before plantingUse a container large enough for mature roots, with open drainage holes to prevent root rot.
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Tree trunk guard
Protection / After plantingProtect young trunks from mower damage, sunscald, rabbits, and rubbing injury.
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Expanding container potting mix
Containers / Before plantingUse a lighter container medium instead of dense garden soil in pots and grow bags.
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Digging spade or shovel
Tools / Planting dayOpen planting holes, loosen compacted soil, and shape beds for larger transplants.
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Organic mulch
Soil / After plantingHold soil moisture, suppress weeds, moderate soil temperature, and protect shallow roots.
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Finished compost
Soil / Bed prepImprove bed structure and organic matter before planting annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.
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Watering wand or can
Watering / Planting dayWater new transplants gently without washing soil away from the crown or roots.
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Loppers or pruning saw
Maintenance / First dormant seasonHandle woody stems and branches too large for hand pruners.
Yield curve
Estimated Pound Return
Projected annual yield ramp from establishment to full production, using the current sourced range for Japanese plum yew.
- Year 1
- 0 lb Establishment year: focus on roots before harvest.
- Year 5
- 30-48 lb
- Year 10
- 75-120 lb
- 10-year total
- 375-600 lb/10 yrs
Shaded band shows the sourced low-to-high pound-yield range. The line tracks the midpoint for quick comparison.
Method: direct pound yield from crop metric source. Annual crops assume one comparable planting per year; perennial crops ramp from first bearing to full production.
Planting Strategy
- Planting depth: Set the crown or top of root ball level with the surrounding soil.
- Container minimum: 10+ gal (workable). Use 10+ gal; larger containers improve moisture buffering at maturity.
- Start with one plant when testing fit in a new bed or container.
- For screening, repeat compatible plants and confirm mature spacing before buying.
- Use the pairing map below to choose nearby companions or compatible varieties.
Risk Factors
- Match the site first: partial, full light, loam, clay soil, and medium water.
- Use 14-20 ft in-row x 20-25 ft rows as the first spacing model; adjust for hedges, trellises, containers, or local guidance.
- Plan around mature size: 12-20 ft H x 12-20 ft W.
- For screens and hedges, confirm mature size and spacing with the nursery label or local extension guidance.
- Deer pressure can be a real constraint for this plant; plan protection if browsing is common nearby.
Related Planning Guides
Comparable Plants
Companion Plants & Pairings
Compatible Cultivars
Plum pollination depends on type, but many home plums crop better with a compatible partner nearby.
Use it: Compare Japanese, European, and native-hybrid types before buying; do not assume every plum pollinates every other plum.
Plant Nearby
Low alliums and long-blooming flowers can form a simple orchard-edge understory without competing heavily with young trees.
Use it: Keep the root flare clear, mulch the tree properly, and plant companions outside the trunk zone rather than against the bark.
Sources & Methodology
This guide combines hardiness range, light, soil, water, harvest timing, traits, supplier links, plant relationships, and quantitative planning metrics. Pairings are screened for practical garden fit.
Quantitative values use extension and botanical-reference ranges where available. For less-studied cultivars, similar crops fill gaps conservatively. Ranges are intentionally broad so the profile stays useful without pretending to be exact.
Planning sources: Midwest Home Fruit Production GuidePenn State Extension - Stone Fruit Spacing and Probable YieldUniversity of Minnesota Extension - Growing Stone Fruits in the Home GardenUniversity of Maryland Extension - Planting a Tree or ShrubUniversity of Maryland Extension - Starting a Home Fruit Garden
Supplier search: Amazon. Search links are not paid placements unless explicitly marked; affiliate listings may earn a commission. Last reviewed: 2026-05-31.