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Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia) pollination - where to get male/female plants?

 
Posts: 33
Location: Varna, Bulgaria
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This seems like an interesting plant that can tolerate the shade in our front yard: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cephalotaxus+harringtonia+nana

(or any cultivars of Cephalotaxus harringtonia)

However... it isn't self-fertile. Other resources go on to identify that a male plant is needed, not just another cultivar for biodiversity. Because these named cultivars everyone is selling are likely female grown from cuttings, I can't simply buy two.

Aside from starting a bunch from seed and waiting a decade to spot the male, does anyone know where male pollinators of these trees can be purchased? Within the EU would be lovely. Honestly, I am a little bewildered that they are stated to be such a decent permaculture plant and yet I cannot find them for sale in anything other than an ornamental context.

There are a lot of vendors ( https://www.goedkopeolijfbomen.nl/cephalotaxus-harr-fastigiata/ ) of these trees, but in my four-hour search I cannot find anyone offering up a known male counterpart. I'm starting to think I'm missing something here!

Does anyone have any fruiting Japanese Plum Yews? If so, how'd you get there?
 
steward and tree herder
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Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland. Nearly 70 inches rain a year
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Hi Don, Yes the plum yews do seem like a great plant for a shady spot. I've seen them fruiting in  Devon and Cornwall. pfaf.org says that female forms can occasionally form unfertilised fruit, but that wouldn't be ideal if you want a crop from it. I couldn't find out what the cultivated forms were either. I'm only really familiar with UK suppliers (ART and jurassic plants are some of my favourites) You could try Lubera - they often have interesting cultivars, or maybe the Balkan ecology people may be able to help.
I would probably try and get some seed grown babies and just wait a few years.
 
steward
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I am not sure where you would find this plant in Bulgaria.

This one is called Duke Gardens and is a male cultiver:

The cultivar 'Duke Gardens' was discovered at Duke Gardens in Durham, North Carolina



It is a male cultivar and will not produce fruits.



https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cephalotaxus-harringtonia-duke-gardens/
 
Don Komarechka
Posts: 33
Location: Varna, Bulgaria
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Thanks so much for the very helpful feedback!

There a number of nurseries across the EU that seem to have "Duke Gardens" and I have a few inquiries in for availability / shipping (many places will ship to Bulgaria as an EU nation but it's not by default on their shipping list of countries).

I very much appreciate the knowledge, and it's being put to use. :)
 
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