Hi everyone,
Could anyone, please identify this extremely sharp pointy needled flat Evergreen, which has serendipitously planted itself in our backyard.
It is very fast growing. In zone 7b, NY.
There is a Hicks yew planted 30 years ago directly behind the mystery plant.
I will provide more photos as now it is in the middle of April.
Could it be Torreya Taxifolia?
Thank you

It looks like a Yew - Taxus

maybe hemlock?
https://arboretum.uoguelph.ca/...

Or perhaps a Taxus relatives, Torreya Sp ( Torreya californica ) with that sharply pointed needles. Although no idea that plant present there.
However this website stated T. californica; "Currently, this is the most popular Torreya in ornamental use worldwide, especially in large gardens"
https://www.conifers.org/ta/To...

Waiting for fruits/cones would clear up what it is pretty fast. All three plants suggested have radically different fruits/cones.

But in the meantime... Crushed leaves of Torreya californica have a strong odor, like spice or incense. Yew has no smell at all. Hemlock smells kind of like the mice living in the shed.

stone said: maybe hemlock?
https://arboretum.uoguelph.ca/...

Looking at site below/close up of the branch with needles....it eliminates Tsuga canadensis.
Tsuga canadensis has small needles on the top of the branch.
Mystery conifer does not have these.
https://landscapeplants.oregon...

Yews are blooming now and the needles are whorled around the stem mostly. A picture of the reverse side of the needles would help. Maybe the stems and wood too.

It is a Pacific Yew I think

possibly

Possibly Cunninghamia sp. (China "fir"-it's not a true fir)

Denice43 said: It is a Pacific Yew I think

I find conifers from pics really hard.
Taxus brevifolia...common name Pacific yew.

https://landscapeplants.oregon...

Quote www....
"Pacific yew Taxaceae Taxus brevifolia Nutt. Leaf: Evergreen needles, single, spirally arranged (although they appear 2-ranked), 1 inch long, yellow-green to dark green above and paler below (but without bloom); apex pointed but not sharp; each needle has a distinct petiole that parallels the twig for a short distance."

Not sure if the mystery tree has this...a closer inspection is needed.
"each needle has a distinct petiole that parallels the twig for a short distance."

Pic below shows the tiny petiole.
https://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/den...
More...
https://www.conifers.org/ta/Ta...

I suggested Yew because I am familiar with Pacific Yew - It does look like a Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia) and their growing conditions are pretty specific. But there is a Yew native to the East coast (Taxus canadensis) - that would be a more reasonable east coast choice if it is a Yew.

Having cones or fruits would be good. Seeing more of the tree structure and size would be good. I think @Jon208 is no longer with us.

Taxus canadensis needles are not that sharply pointed. Additionally, the growth structure is very different - upright and sprawling.

My apologies, I had a bad back get acutely worse and was not using my iphone at all. No computer here.
Thank you all for your input.
I will take better pictures of the detail and bark.
It is only about 4' high, but wide and has branches to the ground.
The larger plant behind the mystery tree is a hicks yew which got huge. I planted it about 30 years ago.
I do have a chinese blue fir that is starting to grow now.
Mystery plant is still dormant as the yews are starting now.
I noticed in silversurfers post , "needle not sharp" , but these needles are VERY SHARP! They go thru common garden gloves, i wear my welding gloves to prune!

Jon

Here are some better photos.
Please have a look and let me know.

Could this be Torreya taxifolia?
Has the same two stripes along the underneath side of the needles, as shown in the first photo below.
Thank you all in advance.
Jon

Lucy68 said: Crushed leaves of Torreya californica have a strong odor, like spice or incense. Yew has no smell at all. Hemlock smells kind of like the mice living in the shed.

Crush some leaves.

Thanks Lucy
I will do that and get back to you
Thanks again

I crushed 4-5, needles and it had a lovely fragrance.
One male and two females smelled it and we all agreed it was very nice, though none of us could place that fragrance.
Hope this helps
Jon

Probably Torreya californica. I asked my daughter what she thought it smelled like. She couldn't quite decide either... sweet, fragrant - common name is California Nutmeg.

Yew smells green and hemlock smells bad - Daughter said like something died.

Just wondering how likely it is that a Torreya californica would self-seed in a New York backyard?

There are other members of the Torreya genus. The New York Botanical Garden has a small grove of Japanese Nutmegs.