Yaupon Ilex vomitoria 'Taylor's Rudolph'
Other plants called Yaupon:
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks vom-ih-TOR-ee-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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'Taylor's Rudolph' is a female cultivar of I. vomitoria, a species native to eastern North America in the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). 'Taylor's Rudolph' is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub reaching 3 to 5 feet tall and wide with a mounded form that fills out down to the ground. This low-growing dwarf has a fine texture, plenty of red berries in the autumn and glossy, dark green leaves all year long.
It is adaptable to a wide range of soil types and is drought tolerant once established but tolerates temporary wet conditions. It does best in full sun to partial shade and is salt tolerant but will not do well in polluted urban settings such as parking lots. It is a slow to moderate grower. Prune in winter if needed.
The spring flowers are not ornamental significant but attract pollinators. In the fall and winter, the birds enjoy the berries. Being a female variety, it requires a male selection of the same species growing nearby in order to set fruit such as ‘Stokes Dwarf’ (syn. ‘Schilling’s Dwarf’) or 'Will Flemming'.
'Taylor's Rudolph' can be mass planted and used as a formal hedge, a specimen, or as a foundation plant. It is at home in a coastal garden, rock garden or in a border planting. It can also be grown in containers and is resistant to browsing by deer.
Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No insect or disease problems when planted in their native habitat. Holly leafminer, spider mites, aphids, whiteflies and scale are occasional problems. Leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot and powdery mildew are potential disease problems.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests.
VIDEO: Part of a series of Native Plant Picks from the North Carolina Sea Grant Coastal Landscapes Initiative.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- vomitoria
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood from this plant was used by Native Americans to make arrows. The leaves were used for ceremonial tea, which, when consumed in large quantities, caused a cleansing now memorialized by the specific epithet. Also contains caffeine.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are enjoyed by birds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Phytophthora root rot.
- Edibility:
- Use caution. The young leaves may be picked, browned and dried in an oven, steeped in hot water and used to make Yaupon tea. It contains caffeine. In quantities, can be mildly toxic.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4 inch Glossy, bright red drupes have 4 seeds each which are dispersed by birds. A pollinizer variety is needed to ensure fruit set.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Not ornamentally significant
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1.5 inch long and 3/4-inch wide oval, glossy, dark green leaves that emerge with a purple tinge. Margins are crenate or serrate and have a rounded base and prominent, pinnate venation.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
