Cool, I didn't know much about the yew until this post got me to read a little about it. "Pacific yew is native to the Pacific Northwest. It ranges from southernmost Alaska south to Northern California." I'm by the Alaskan panhandle, on the Pacific coast, so I'm at the top end of the Pacific Yew's range. I'll look for it when I'm in the woods. Apparently it grows in damp soil, and like you said, generally in partial shade. It has a shrub form which is just as common as the tree form. Thanks for posting : ))