Taxus or yew make great topiary. They are fabulous evergreens and can live for centuries. They take to clipping readily and, unlike many conifers, have the ability to regenerate from the branches if you want to cut harder to keep them small. A great many lines of so called topiary have to be left to keep getting a little bigger every season so as not to lose the foliage. Thus, eventually, ending up with an out grown giant that will need removing.

Growing Yew as Topiary

The same applies to the growing of yew as a Yew Info.  The most important thing is that you do not plant them in soil that sits permanantly wet, other than that they are quite easy to get away in the garden.