‘Amersfoort’ Conifer Dwarf English Yew Taxus cuspidata
 
10 Year Dimensions: 4 Ft High by 2 Ft Wide
Annual Growth Rate: 5-6 Inches Per Year
 
 
A dwarf, irregular upright evergreen conifer with a curious non-yew-like appearance. Needles are short, rounded and dark brown-green. Older specimens reveal warm orange-brown bark. Discovered in Holland. Prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil. 5' tall x 2.5' wide in 10 years. Hardy to -10 degrees. USDA zone 5-7
 
American Conifer Society Details
Taxus cuspidata 'Amersfoort'
RECOMMENDED HARDINESS ZONES:5 (-10 to -20 F / -23.3 to -28.9 C)
HORTICULTURAL STATUS: EstablishedORIGIN: UnknownCOLOR: Medium Green TRINOMIAL TYPE: CultivarGROWTH SHAPE: Broad Upright or OvalGROWTH SIZE: Intermediate: 6 to 12 inches (15 – 30 cm) per year / 5 to 10 feet (1.5 – 3 m) after 10 years
 
History
This cultivar originated in France in the 1930s and brought to the nursery of D.B.B. van den Hoorn, in Boskoop, The Netherlands, who later planted it on the grounds of Amersfoort Psychiatric Hospital, The Netherlands, hence the cultivar name. The plant was so unusual and distinctive that it defied identification. Initial attempts were Podocarpus, later Taxus baccata. A recently reverted specimen in The Netherlands, made it quite obvious that this cultivar belongs in T. cuspidata. 
'Amersfoort' makes for a fine addition to the conifer collector's garden.