Taxus baccata or English Yew is a long lived and hardy, evergreen shrub or small tree with dense, dark green foliage and thick, dark-barked trunk.
It is much prized for topiary (cutting to shapes) and is therefore terrific for classic, formal gardens or dense hedging - but you'll need patience, its not a fast grower.
The male plant yields scaly cones and the female, scarlet, poisonous berries.
It doesn't enjoy hot or dry conditions.
The leaves contain an active compound, taxol, which is used commercially in drugs used to treat breast cancer.