Yew is a native British evergreen. They can be grown as a formal hedge or left to grow into large trees. Yew is quite slow growing so it takes many, many years to grow into a large tree. It is a firm favourite for classic style hedges and topiary. The plants withstand quite hard clipping and, if overgrown, can be rejuvenated by cutting them back to the stumps. Stunning Orange - Red berries in Autumn. Yew will grow in most conditions including shade.