Plant pick: Standishii

Published 11:49 am Thursday, March 4, 2010

WHAT: Standishii, a columnar golden yew, is a slow-growing evergreen. Its tight, columnar habit works well in small or narrow spaces. Slim golden needles add a fine and delicate accent to the garden.

WHY PLANT IT: Most columnar plants become too large with time, or splay and split with age, but this yew holds its rigid, upright form and can easily be pruned to fit into almost any size garden. New spring growth is a bright, golden yellow that glows in gray weather. Its color holds well into summer, eventually forming a rich golden veneer over older dark green interior needles.

WHERE: It tolerates a surprisingly wide variety of soil, including clay and sandy sites. In poor soils, add organic material and water regularly until plants are established. Once established, it is quite drought tolerant, but appreciates occasional watering during dry summers. It can tolerate full sun to full shade, but its golden color vanishes in excessive shade. It will tolerate heavy pruning and is one of the few conifers that will sprout new growth from old wood.

HOW: Use it in tight or narrow locations or as an exclamation point in the landscape. Pair it with low-mounding shrubs such as azaleas and dwarf rhododendrons to add contrast, or plant it with soft, flowing mounds of smaller ornamental grasses. Its gold-evergreen needles look great with red, orange, burgundy or purple, or even whites, creams or soft yellows.

ACTUAL SIZE: This upright conifer will reach about 7 feet tall and 18 inches wide in 10 years.

LEARN MORE: See www.greatplantpicks.org.

Source: Great Plant Picks