Canada Yew

Taxus canadensis

Safety note: All parts except the red berry flesh are highly toxic; seeds inside are also toxic.

Canada Yew is a low, sprawling evergreen shrub of cool northern forests with flat, dark green needles and bright red fleshy berries called arils. The soft red arils are eaten by birds (who pass the toxic seeds unharmed), while all other parts including the seeds are highly poisonous. It was once far more abundant before massive overbrowsing by deer.

Habitat

Cool moist forests and rocky slopes of the northeastern and Great Lakes region

Diet

Red arils eaten by American robin and other birds; seeds pass through unharmed

How common

Common