紅豆杉屬常綠喬木，臺灣原生，東喜馬拉雅山至中國東南亦為原產地。樹幹略扭曲；樹皮赤褐色，不規則片狀剝落。葉線狀披針形，扁平，略鐮狀，螺旋排列於小枝上，扭成不規則之2列。雌雄異株，雄毬花單一，腋生；雌毬花腋生。種子堅果狀，包被於紅色肉質假種皮內，11月間成熟。

An evergreen tree in the genus Taxus, native to Taiwan and the eastern Himalayas to southeast China. Trunk slightly twisted; bark russet in color, with irregular exfoliates. Leaves linear-lanceolate, flat, slightly falcate in shape, arranged spirally on the twigs, twisted into two irregular rows. Dioecious, single male strobili, axillary; female strobili axillary. Seeds nut-shaped, coated in red succulent aril, and ripe in November.

喜生長於較陰溼之處。以種子繁殖為主，亦可用扦插、嫁接、組織培養等繁殖。

The plant prefers growing in humid and shade areas. Mainly propagated by seeds, other methods like cutting, grafting, and tissue culture.

可作庭園景觀樹；木材常被用為建築、家具、雕刻及佛像使用。樹皮或樹葉中有含量高於其它紅豆杉的紫杉醇成分，可治療卵巢癌、乳癌、肺癌、頭部頸部腫瘤等。

The plants can be planted as garden landscape tree; the wood is commonly used for construction, furniture making, carving and Buddha statue sculpture. The bark and foliage contain more paclitaxel than other yew trees, which can be used to treat ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck tumors.