Spreading Japanese Plum Yew
Best low-maintenance evergreen for shaded, deer-prone garden landscapes.
Discover the Spreading Japanese Plum Yew, a low-growing evergreen shrub that brings elegant texture to any shaded landscape. Its dark green, needle-like foliage forms a graceful, spreading carpet, reaching 1 to 2 feet in height and spreading 2 to 6 feet wide. This deer-resistant plant thrives in partial to full shade and well-drained, slightly acidic soil, offering year-round visual appeal with minimal upkeep. It's an excellent, durable choice for borders, foundation plantings, or adding lush ground cover beneath trees where other plants may struggle.
$49.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
61
/ 2693
#61 in Plants
Price vs Category Average
+14%
Above average
Cultivar
Prostrata
/ Prostrata
Who it's for
- Gardeners managing varied light conditions across their landscape
- Homeowners seeking low-maintenance, year-round structural greenery
- Property owners living in areas with high deer populations
Who should skip it
- Impatient landscapers needing immediate privacy or screening
- Families with curious pets or small children
- Gardeners residing in regions with harsh, deep-freeze winters
Performance breakdown
Shade Tolerance
Thrives in low-light conditions where most other evergreens struggle to survive.
Maintenance Ease
Requires minimal pruning and upkeep to maintain its graceful, spreading form.
Deer Resistance
Reliably deters browsing wildlife, protecting your landscape investment from common pests.
Ground Cover Density
Creates a lush, carpet-like barrier that effectively suppresses unwanted weed growth.
Year-Round Appeal
Maintains consistent dark green color through every season of the year.
Landscape Versatility
Adapts perfectly to borders, foundation plantings, or under-tree ground cover applications.
Key Specs
Cultivar
Prostrata
Foliage
Dark green, needle-like
Mature Height
1 to 2 feet
Mature Spread
2 to 6 feet
Container Size
3 gal
Sun Exposure
Partial Shade, Full Shade
Soil Type
Well-drained, Slightly acidic
Growth Habit
Spreading, low-growing
Features
- Provides graceful, spreading ground-hugging texture
- Offers year-round interest with evergreen foliage
- Highly deer resistant
- Thrives in shaded landscape areas
- Requires minimal maintenance
- Forms a dense, textured ground cover
- Ideal for borders and foundation plantings
- Durable and elegant evergreen solution
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality of the Spreading Japanese Plum Yew upon arrival, noting the plants are healthy, well rooted, and robustly packaged. A major theme is the plant's reliability and ease of establishment. Gardeners appreciate its hardiness and low maintenance requirements, making it an excellent choice for foundational landscaping. The value is often cited as fair given the superior health and size compared to local garden centers.
Know before you buy
Yes, this plant is well-suited for full shade environments. It thrives in low-light conditions where many other shrubs struggle to grow.
Since this cultivar spreads 2 to 6 feet wide, you should space them at least 3 to 4 feet apart if you want them to eventually knit together into a dense, continuous carpet.
The Spreading Japanese Plum Yew is highly deer resistant, making it a reliable choice for landscapes where deer pressure is a common concern.
It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil. If your soil is heavy clay or tends to stay waterlogged, you may need to amend it or plant in a raised area to ensure proper drainage.
It is a low-maintenance evergreen that requires very little pruning. Once established, it maintains its graceful, low-growing shape naturally with minimal intervention.
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$50