Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
An evergreen shrub or small tree with dense, fine-textured, oval to elliptic dark green leaves with scalloped margins and smooth gray bark.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, ideally 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Water
- Moderate water needs; water deeply when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Highly drought-tolerant once established.
- Growth
- Perennial evergreen shrub or small tree with a dense, branching habit, typically reaching 10 to 20 feet in height and 8 to 15 feet in spread with a moderate growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide full sun to partial shade in well-draining soil. Water deeply during establishment, then regularly until roots are established, after which it exhibits good drought tolerance. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade, ideally 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Watering
Moderate water needs; water deeply when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Highly drought-tolerant once established.
Soil
Adaptable to a wide range of soil types including clay, sand, and loam, provided drainage is adequate. Prefers an acidic to neutral pH range of 5.5 to 7.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 9, with high heat and humidity tolerance.
Growth habit
Perennial evergreen shrub or small tree with a dense, branching habit, typically reaching 10 to 20 feet in height and 8 to 15 feet in spread with a moderate growth rate.
Bloom season
Spring; produces small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers followed by persistent red fruits on female plants.
Propagation
Propagated easily through semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer or by seeds cleaned and stratified before planting.
Common pests & issues
Generally trouble-free, though occasionally susceptible to scale insects, leaf miners, and root rot in poorly draining soils.
Similar species
American Holly (Ilex opaca), which features significantly larger, spiny leaves and larger red fruits compared to the small, rounded leaves of the Yaupon Holly.