Torreya is an evergreen shrub or tree in the yew family with 2 being native to North America and 4 being native to Asia. They grow 16 to 65 feet tall and can be either monoecious or dioecious. When monoecious, the pollen and seed cones are on different branches. The seeds of some types are edible and squirrels help distribute the seed by collecting and burying them. The evergreen leaves spiral around the branch but twist so they lay in two flat ranks. The seed cone is large and drupe-like with a greenish-purplish or yellowish flesh (aril) around the seed. California nutmeg-yew is native to California and is the largest of the species reaching up to 80 feet tall. Florida nutmeg-yew is restricted to an area in the Florida panhandle in Torreya State Park. They prefer moist but well-drained fertile soil in part to full shade and are humidity tolerant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The native Florida species is threatened by fungal diseases and may be difficult to find but has been successfully planted disease-free at Biltmore Gardens in NC.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 16 ft. 0 in. - 65 ft. 0 in. | Width: 16 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Prickly
Leaf value
Fragrant; Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The green linear leaves spiral around the shoots but are twisted so they lay in two flat rows with a sharp tip. They are 0.8-3 inches long and 3-4 mm wide. Upperside is lustrous and the underside has waxy-appearing bands parallel the midrib
Flower detail
No flowers
Fruit color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The seed cone is a fleshy green drupe-like structure 3/4-1.5 inches long with a single nut-like seed inside that is edible. It matures green to purple. Pollen cones are 5-8 mm and grouped in lines on the underside of shoots.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
The bark is shallow, furrowed and peeling
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Asia and North America
Distribution
FL, CA, GA
Attracts
Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Riparian
Landscape theme
Winter Garden
Design feature
Screen/Privacy; Small Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#partial shade tolerant #evergreen tree #shade tree #ornamental tree