Yaupon Ilex vomitoria
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Yaupon:
Previously known as:
- Ilex ligustrina
- Phonetic Spelling
- EE-leks vom-ih-TOR-ee-ah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Yaupon is fast growing evergreen shrub or small tree in the Aquifoliaceae (holly) family, native to the eastern USA. It is primarily found in coastal NC in sandy woodlands, shorelines, and shrub thickets. The genus name Ilex is in reference to the similarity of the evergreen leaves to Quercus ilex or holm oak. The leaves of the parent plant were used for ceremonial tea, which, when consumed in large quantities, caused a cleansing now memorialized by the specific epithet vomitoria.
It can reach 10 to 20 feet tall, sometimes as tall as 30 feet, and 8-12 feet wide. This shrub is dioecious meaning it has separate male and female plants. To achieve the attractive bright red signature red fruits both male and female shrubs must be planted.
Plant in average well-drained soils in sun to shade, though it will produce more fruit and have a thicker canopy with more sun. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and can withstand both drought, salt spray, and occasional flooding. This plant can take heavy pruning, transplants easily, and is resistant to Phytophthora root rot. It root cuskers easily and if those suckers are left unpruned, it will form a thicket.
The leaves are small, leathery and bright green and are not prickly like other hollies. They provide a larval food source to butterflies. Tiny white fragrant, nectar-rich, flowers appear in spring on separate male and female plants. The flowers are very attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies. If fertilized, female shrubs produce showy red drupes in fall, persisting through winter, and those fruits are enjoyed by songbirds and small mammals. The plant will form thickets unless suckers are removed.
Take advantage of the showy red fruits and use this plant as a specimen. Its small evergreen leaves make it deal for sheering into a screen or hedge, or use it in topary. The tightly packed leaves also work well as a windbreak or barrier planting. Because of its height it can add dark green color the back of a border. This plant also does well in large containers. There are dwarf and weeping cultivars available.
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.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are alternate, 1" long, 1/2" wide with rounded apex and base.
- Very young stems are purplish in color and turn silvery-gray as they age.
- Petioles are purplish.
- Produces translucent red berries.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No insect or disease problems when planted in their native habitat. Holly leaf miner, spider mites, whitefly, and scale are occasional problems. Leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot, and powdery mildew are potential disease problems.
Additional Video: Yaupon holly 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:
- Foundation Planting- West Side of House
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aureo'
Yellow fruits - 'Bordeaux'
Compact dwarf, 2'-4' by 3'-5' - 'Folsom's Weeping'
Heavy fruit production, pendulous - 'Jewel'
Weeping form, female plant heavy fruit
'Nana'
- 'Otis Miley'
Yellow fruits, small leaves
'Pendula' or 'Grey's Weeping'
- 'Pride of Houston'
Medium size, heavy fruit - 'Schelling's Dwarf'
Dwarf, more compact than 'Nana' - 'Stokes Dwarf'
- 'Virginia Dare'
- 'Wiggins' Yellow'
Yellow fruits
'Will Fleming'
Compact dwarf, sterile male
Large weeping form 35' tall female plant, heavy fruit
dwarf form
- 'Aureo'
- 'Aureo', 'Bordeaux', 'Folsom's Weeping', 'Jewel', 'Nana', 'Otis Miley', 'Pendula' or 'Grey's Weeping', 'Pride of Houston', 'Schelling's Dwarf', 'Stokes Dwarf', 'Taylor's Rudolph', 'Virginia Dare' , 'Wiggins' Yellow', 'Will Fleming'
- Tags:


















- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aureo'
Yellow fruits - 'Bordeaux'
Compact dwarf, 2'-4' by 3'-5' - 'Folsom's Weeping'
Heavy fruit production, pendulous - 'Jewel'
Weeping form, female plant heavy fruit
'Nana'
- 'Otis Miley'
Yellow fruits, small leaves
'Pendula' or 'Grey's Weeping'
- 'Pride of Houston'
Medium size, heavy fruit - 'Schelling's Dwarf'
Dwarf, more compact than 'Nana' - 'Stokes Dwarf'
- 'Virginia Dare'
- 'Wiggins' Yellow'
Yellow fruits
'Will Fleming'
Compact dwarf, sterile male
Large weeping form 35' tall female plant, heavy fruit
dwarf form
- 'Aureo'
- 'Aureo', 'Bordeaux', 'Folsom's Weeping', 'Jewel', 'Nana', 'Otis Miley', 'Pendula' or 'Grey's Weeping', 'Pride of Houston', 'Schelling's Dwarf', 'Stokes Dwarf', 'Taylor's Rudolph', 'Virginia Dare' , 'Wiggins' Yellow', 'Will Fleming'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- vomitoria
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native American Indians used the leaves to make a ceremonial emetic drink which, when consumed in large quantities, caused a cleansing now memorialized by the specific epithet. Also contains caffeine.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- USA to Mexico
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , OK , SC , TX , VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It is a larval host plant for the Henry's Elfin, and Holly Azure butterfly. Butterflies and other pollinators nectar at the blooms. The fruits are eaten by songbirds and small mammals. Also provides winter cover. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is highly resistant to damage from deer and salt tolerant. Resistant to Phytophthora root rot.
- Edibility:
- 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.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 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 Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4 inch red drupes in clusters mature in fall and persist into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small greenish-white flowers that appear on male and female plants in the spring (April). The flowers are fragrant but generally inconspicuous. They grow solitary or in pairs and are clustered on peduncles in leaf axils. Blooms from March to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1.5-inch oval leaves are glossy green and leathery with toothed margins and rounded at base and tip.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- White
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Thin, smooth and light gray to almost white. As the tree ages, the bark might become a bit scaly.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Young stems are purple and turn gray to white-gray as they age.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Wind