Cephalotaxaceae

The Cephalotaxaceae family, also known as plum-yew, consists of about seven species of small coniferous trees and shrubs belonging to the genus Cephalotaxus. These plants are native to central and eastern Asia and are often used as ornamentals in temperate regions.1

A distinctive feature of plum-yews is the fleshy aril that surrounds each single, hard seed, giving it a plum-like appearance. The Japanese plum-yew (C. harringtonia) is a cultivated variety that typically reaches about 3 meters (10 feet) in height. The Chinese plum-yew (C. fortunei) can grow up to 12 meters (40 feet) in the wild and around 6 meters (20 feet) when cultivated.1

Within the broader classification of conifers, the Cephalotaxaceae family is recognized as one of the smaller extant conifer families, with two genera and approximately 11 species. Some botanists classify this family under Taxaceae.2