From Poison Berries, to English Longbowmen and a new Elixir of Health Yew bushes are quite common in gardens as ornamental shrubs and hedges. They are liked for being hardy, and soil and moisture tolerant evergreens. In addition, the have nice red berries in the fall. Please note: the orange/red juicy fruits are quite palatable but have poisonous seeds in the center. Their poison was already known two millennia ago (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxus_baccata ) and appeared to be the choice of soldiers to die when not wanting to fall alive into the hands of the enemy.