Hills Yew is narrow and short-stalked with tightly-spaced dark green needles. A versatile evergreen tolerating heavy pruning, making it ideal for hedges, screens, foundation plantings and topiary landscapes. It can also be left unpruned for a softer textured landscape.

A columnar-growing cultivar, growing somewhat more slowly than 'Hicksii', making it a good vertical accent. Protection (burlap wrap) from drying winter winds is recommended in exposed locations. This plant has low tolerance for salty or wet, poorly-drained conditions, and is a male selection (producing no fruit).

All parts of the plant are poisonous to human beings, dogs, cats, and horses.