VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Taxus candensis | Canada Yew 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Canada yew provides year-round browse for moose and is an important
winter food for white-tailed deer where it is available [44].  The
fleshy aril of Canada yew is eaten by many birds, including ruffed
grouse, pheasants, and various nongame birds, such as cedar waxwings,
robind, and starlings [25,35,43].

All parts of Canada yew, except for the aril, are poisonous to horses
and cattle [5].


PALATABILITY : 
Canada yew is highly preferred by moose and white-tailed deer [17].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
The aril of Canada yew can be eaten by humans [25].  Native American
tribes in Michigan and Quebec used the foliage to make a beverage [44].

Canada yew is suggested for conservation planting, though it would
probably not do well except on shady, moist sites [35].  It is planted
as an ornamental but is more often used as parental stock for the
formation of new hybrids.  It is not as versatile as other species of
yew for ornamental purposes.  Numerous horticultural varieties are
available [15,25].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Canada yew is intolerant to moderate or heavy browsing by moose or deer
[23,30,38].  Browse availability can be classified as follows on the
basis of use of balsam fir (Abies balsamea), Canada yew, and paper birch
(Betula papyrifera):  if Canada yew is highly or moderately used, the
range is below carrying capacity; if balsam fir is heavily browsed,
Canada yew has already been browsed to extirpation [31].  Canada yew was
once abundant on Isle Royale, Michigan, occurring with 67 percent
frequency on plots recorded by surveyors in 1847 [16].  Since
colonization of the island by moose, Canada yew has become rare and is
increasing only in moose exlosures [1,17,26].

In Nova Scotia, removal of the hemlock overstory destroys Canada yew; it
is recommended that some old-gowth stands be preserved to maintain the
presence of Canada yew as deer browse [36].  Any removal of the
overstory is likely to be detrimental to Canada yew [23].  In a mixed
conifer-hardwood forest in New Hampshire, Canada yew cover was
"inconsequential" 8 years after a light, selective cut.  Heavier levels
of harvest resulted in it being eliminated [21].

Canada yew is more cold hardy that English yew (Taxus baccata) or
Japanese yew (T. cuspidata), which are also used for ornamentals [25].

Related categories for Species: Taxus candensis | Canada Yew