Yaupon Holly

Plant Type: shrub
Plant Height: 15-20 feet
Spread: 10-15 feet
Flower Color: white
Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Partial Shade

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria): A Versatile Evergreen for Ornamental and Functional Landscaping

Yaupon Holly, Ilex vomitoria, is a native shrub of the southeastern United States, recognized for its adaptability, attractive berries, and role in supporting wildlife. This member of the Aquifoliaceae family is a versatile evergreen that can add structure, color, and ecological value to a variety of landscape settings.

Key Features of Yaupon Holly

• Ornamental Berries: The most striking feature of Yaupon Holly is its small, bright red berries, which appear on female plants in the fall and often last through winter. These berries add vibrant color to the landscape during colder months, providing food for birds and visual interest for gardeners.

• Glossy, Evergreen Foliage: Yaupon Holly has small, glossy, leathery leaves that maintain their lush green color year-round, making it an excellent choice for evergreen hedges, screens, and foundation plantings.

• Pollination: This holly is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants. To enjoy the berry display, you’ll need at least one male plant nearby to pollinate female plants.

• Inconspicuous Flowers: In spring, Yaupon Holly produces small white flowers that may go unnoticed but provide valuable nectar for bees and other pollinators, contributing to the health of your garden's ecosystem.

Growth and Care

Yaupon Holly is a hardy, adaptable shrub that can grow as a dense, upright bush or be pruned into a small tree. It typically reaches heights of 10 to 20 feet with a spread of 8 to 12 feet. With its tolerance for various environmental conditions, Yaupon Holly thrives in a range of garden settings:

• Light Requirements: Yaupon Holly performs well in full sun to partial shade, making it adaptable to different parts of the garden.

• Soil: This shrub tolerates a variety of soil types, including sandy and clay soils, as long as they are well-draining. It also does well in acidic soils but can adapt to a range of pH levels.

• Watering: Drought-tolerant once established, Yaupon Holly is also able to withstand moist conditions, making it a resilient choice for gardens with varying water availability.

• Pruning: Yaupon Holly tolerates pruning, which allows it to be shaped as desired. It can be left to grow naturally for a dense look or pruned into formal shapes, hedges, topiaries, or even bonsai.

Landscaping Uses

Yaupon Holly’s evergreen foliage, bright berries, and tolerance for pruning make it a highly versatile addition to gardens and landscapes. Here are some ways to incorporate it into your outdoor spaces:

• Hedges and Screens: Yaupon Holly’s dense foliage makes it ideal for creating privacy hedges and windbreaks, adding year-round greenery and structure to the garden.

• Foundation Planting: Its manageable size and adaptability to pruning make Yaupon Holly an excellent choice for foundation plantings around homes and buildings.

• Accent Plant or Small Tree: With proper pruning, Yaupon Holly can be shaped into a small, attractive tree that adds height and visual interest.

• Coastal Gardens: This plant is salt-tolerant, making it a good choice for coastal landscapes.

• Wildlife Gardens: The berries provide a food source for birds, while its flowers attract pollinators, making Yaupon Holly a valuable addition to gardens focused on supporting local wildlife.

Summary

Yaupon Holly is a resilient and adaptable shrub with features that appeal to both gardeners and wildlife. Its bright red berries, evergreen foliage, and ease of maintenance make it a favorite choice for a variety of landscaping uses, from hedges and screens to topiaries and specimen plants. Thriving in different soil types and tolerating drought, salt, and pruning, Yaupon Holly is a versatile and reliable option for creating lush, vibrant landscapes in a range of climates.

Three Timbers Installation Guide (Feel Free to Follow): Yaupon Holly

Planting Guide:

• Location: Full sun to partial shade (at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight for optimal growth and berry production)
• Soil: Well-drained, loamy or sandy soil (slightly acidic to neutral soil preferred)
• Spacing: Space plants 3-5 feet apart for optimal growth and to accommodate the shrub’s form
• Planting Depth: Plant at the same depth as the root ball, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil surface
• Support: Yaupon Holly is a self-supporting shrub that grows into a bushy form with small, white flowers and red berries

Watering Guide:

Watering After Planting:

• Initial Watering: Water thoroughly immediately after planting to saturate the root ball and surrounding soil
• Frequency: Water every 4-5 days for the first 2-3 weeks to help establish the root system
• Watering Amount: Provide 2-3 inches of water per session for deep watering

When is the Plant Established?

• Timeframe: Yaupon Holly is considered established after 3-4 months when the roots have spread into the surrounding soil

Watering Once Established:

• Summer: Water every 7-10 days during the hotter months. If temperatures exceed 100°F, increase watering to every 5-7 days. Provide 2-3 inches of water per session.
• Winter: Water every 3-4 weeks during the cooler months, depending on rainfall.

Drip Irrigation Setup:

• Placement of Emitters: Place the drip emitters 12-18 inches away from the base of the plant for deep watering of the root zone
• Flow Rate: Use emitters with a flow rate of 1-2 gallons per hour
• Number of Emitters: 1 emitter per plant for even watering distribution
• Adjusting Frequency: In summer, increase watering frequency to every 5-7 days. In winter, reduce to every 3-4 weeks