TreeRM

Yaupon holly

Ilex vomitoria 路 Aquifoliaceae 路 also Yaupon, Cassina

A tough evergreen shrub or small tree (12-20 feet) with tiny glossy leaves, pale gray bark and, on female plants, translucent red berries that persist through winter. It takes sun or shade, drought or flooding, and heavy shearing, and is North America's only native caffeinated plant. The berries are not for people.

Broadleaf evergreenSlow growingSun or part shadeLow water
Yaupon holly
Luteus, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it stands

Native

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 United States 路 Also native in: VA (USDA PLANTS distribution)source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 AL, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 AR, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 FL, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 GA, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 LA, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 MS, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 NC, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 OK, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 SC, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 TX, United Statessource

Recommended

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Austin, TX, United States 路 On the City of Austin Grow Green native and adapted plant list (Watershed Protection). Listed as 'Holly, Yaupon', a large evergreen shade-tolerant shrub; berries poisonous for humans.source

Care

Water the first summer, then it is nearly carefree. Can be sheared as a hedge or limbed up into a small multi-trunk tree; shape annually since the interior gets twiggy. Female plants need a male nearby to fruit; most nursery plants are female. Pests are minor (leaf miner, scale). Highly flammable, so keep it out of a defensible space around rural homes.

Benefits

BirdsWildlifeDrought tolerantSalt tolerantFlood tolerantFits small spacesPollinators

Good for

ScreeningHedgerowSmall yardStreet tree

Watch out for

Toxic parts