Yaupon

(Ilex vomitoria)

Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Ilex vomitoria, commonly known as Yaupon, is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the open woodlands, coastal areas, and forest edges of the Southeastern United States and Mexico. It typically grows to a height of 5–9 meters with a similar spread, featuring smooth, light gray bark and slender, hairy shoots. The plant produces small, white, four-lobed flowers measuring 5–5.5 mm in diameter, followed by small, shiny, red or occasionally yellow drupes that are 4–6 mm in diameter. These fruits contain four pits and are a favorite of birds, aiding in seed dispersal.

Yaupon is distinguished from the similar Ilex cassine by its smaller leaves with a rounded apex. In cultivation, Yaupon is highly adaptable, thriving in full sun to part shade conditions, and is drought-tolerant once established, requiring low amounts of water. It prefers well-drained soils but can tolerate a range of soil types. Its dense growth habit makes it an excellent choice for hedges, screens, or as a specimen plant in residential landscapes. Despite its common name, Yaupon does not induce vomiting unless consumed in large quantities.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Shrub, Tree
  • Height: 10-20 feet
  • Width: 8-12 feet
  • Growth Rate: Slow
  • Flower Color: N/A
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium, High
  • Drainage: Fast, Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Fragrant, Hedges, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Well-drained sandy soils and can be found on the upper edges of brackish and salt marshes, sandy hammocks, coastal sand dunes, inner-dune depressions, sandhills, maritime forests, nontidal forested wetlands, well-drained forests and pine flatwoods.

Other Names

Common Names: Winterberry

Scientific Names: Ilex vomitoria , Ilex ligustrina , Ilex minutiflora f. parvifolia , Ilex minutiflora , Ilex vomitoria f. pendula , Ilex ligustrina f. ekmanii , Ilex ligustrina f. parvifolia , Ilex ligustrina var. minutiflora , Cassine vomitoria , Ilex ligustrina var. typica

GBIF Accepted Name: Ilex vomitoria Sol. ex Aiton