Plant Care Chinese plum-yew

Chinese plum-yew

About Chinese plum-yew

Chinese plum-yew is a super rare houseplant 🌿 that is isn’t challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Chinese plum-yew likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Chinese plum-yew belongs to the Cephalotaxus genus, and is native to Eastern and Central China andMyanmar.

⚠️ Chinese plum-yew is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. These plants are not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Taxonomy

Cephalotaxus fortunei
Cephalotaxus
Taxaceae
Pinales

Also known as

Chinese plum-yew, plum yew, Chinese cowtail pine and san jian shan

How to care for Chinese plum-yew

💦 Water

How often to water your Chinese plum-yew

Water needs for Chinese plum-yew
0.5 cups
every 9

Chinese plum-yew needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Chinese plum-yew in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Chinese plum-yew: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Chinese plum-yew love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Chinese plum-yew does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Chinese plum-yew in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Chinese plum-yew

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Chinese plum-yew: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Chinese plum-yew after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Chinese plum-yew is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!


💦 Water Needs

Chinese plum-yew prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Chinese plum-yew requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Chinese plum-yew is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Chinese plum-yew is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.


🪴 Soil

Chinese plum-yew does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!


💩 Fertilizer

Chinese plum-yew grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Chinese plum-yew will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Chinese plum-yew can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 6a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Chinese plum-yew, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Chinese plum-yew

Chinese plum-yew

Chinese plum-yew


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

Trending in your area

Similar to Chinese plum-yew

Discover rare plants