Taxus brevifolia (Pacific Yew or Western Yew) is a conifer native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. It ranges from southernmost Alaska south to central California, mostly in the Pacific Coast Ranges, but with an isolated disjunct population in southeast British Columbia, most notably occurring on Zuckerberg Island near Castlegar and south to central Idaho. It is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree, growing 10-15 meter tall and with a trunk up to 50 centimeter diameter, rarely more. In some instances, trees with heights in excess of 20 meters occur in parks and other protected areas, quite often in gullies. The tree is extremely slow growing, and has a habit of rotting from the inside, creating hollow forms. This makes it difficult to impossible to make accurate rings counts to determine a specimens true age. Often damaged by succession of the forest, it usually ends up in a squat, multiple leader form.