I took down a yew tree that died a couple of years ago and on a whim split and stacked the trunk rounds. It’s what a hoarder does... It was a 12” diameter tree or a little larger 25’ tall. Usually see it as a shrub wall, not sure if there’s different kinds. I was thinking it would be shoulder wood at best. Couldn’t have been any more wrong. This stuff is incredible, I am about to open windows. Its like black locust it went to coals and just keeps getting hotter. I never in a million years thought it would be this good of firewood, the fact that it dried heavy should have been a sign. Had I known it would have been saved for a day in the 20’s not low 40’s. I don’t have any pictures because it didn’t strike me as photo worthy at the time. Point to it all, if you come across it keep it.
I think the Yew we have here and Pacific Yew are two different species. Not positive though if somebody has other info. I do know it's a beautiful wood to work with. Had a piece I didn't even remember how I came by it and my son used some for a knife handle when he first started blacksmithing. I definitely want more of it.
I’ve seen some of those berries or whatever they may be called around the property a very very long time ago.
I have some yew logs and would agree that the burn is very intense. The logs look red in colour which makes them easy to identify so I separated them from the other species I have for very cold weather. I’ll try to get some pics
I've burned yew, I've picked it up at the dump on occasion. I like the straight thin branches best, because the thick trunks are hard to cut and split, and awkwardly shaped. I read online that the smoke contains toxins, so I don't pick it up anymore.
Taxane in the leaves can give a horse a heart attack, quite literally drop dead right there eating it. Cows and goats, too I imagine. Although deer and moose don't have a problem with it. I don't think it's an oil like poison ivy so it's probably safe to burn, but I don't know that.
We had many bushes growing in my yard as a kid. It was drummed in our heads from the time we could walk, not to eat the berries. Quite funny actually, 5 yr. olds scolding 2 and 3 yr olds "Don't eat the berries, they're poison". Different world back then, parents didn't watch us, the older kids watched us, and they weren't that much older.
did a little searching. It’s hard to find a definitive on the toxicity of burning. Is a pretty toxic shrub/tree so care should be given. Unless one has it in quantity I don’t think it would be worth the chance. If you do have a large quantity it would pay to search a little harder Some interesting albeit inconclusive reading. asked my mom. I was right. There were two out near the road when I was a kid. She says there’s still a few shoots here and there but the deer keep them chomped down.
A photo, there’s a definite reddish hue, a bit like cherry except I’ve found that with cherry the redness isn’t as pronounced when dry. Do your logs look similar Winston?
We have 4 of them that the deer like late winter. When looking them up, the berries themselves are safe to eat, but the seed inside is quite toxic. Not something I care to prove or disprove, if ya know what I mean.
Yes I read that too. Birds can eat the berries but can’t digest the seeds so they are immune. The whole tree is poisonous but it seems deer are also immune from what people here and my mom are saying. Livestock not so much. Weird.
After tulips, yew seems like the deer's favorite food around these parts. They love to rub their antlers on it as well, rubbing all the bark off the trunk. The wood is super hard, heavy, and seems rot resistant. I've never seen any bigger than about 6" in diameter, and the growth rings are very close together.
Irony is, the berries are the only thing on that plant that aren't toxic. So long as you separate it from the little seed cone in the center. That is highly toxic.
When I was a kid their seemed to be quite a lot of yews around including ours, now not so much. Can't tell you when the last time I saw one.
