Ilex vomitoria

Product Info

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)
Holly Family

Yaupon Holly is a large evergreen shrub that is both an attractive landscape plant, and very beneficial to wildlife. The plant produces inconspicuous, small, greenish-white flowers in the spring, which are dioecious, meaning that individual plants are either male or female. Female plants bear bright red berries that persist into winter and are an important food source for various bird species. Adapted to a range of conditions, it thrives in both dry, wet, sun, and shade. Ideal habitat is part sun. It is notable for being the only plant native to North America that contains caffeine. Leaves are roasted and brewed to make a tea. Ingestion of berries can cause nausea and vomiting, hence the scientific name "vomitoria".

Blooms: White, 3-4 weeks, Apr-May
Leaves:  Small, evergreen leaves are a glossy dark green, NOT sharp
Height: 10-20'
Space: 8-10'
Soil: Moist-Average 
Exposure:  Full sun-Part sun-Part shade-Shade 
Fauna:  High pollinator value--many types of pollinators visit (small flies and bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, ants, and beetles), butterfly host plant, fruit for birds,winter cover
Seeds:Small, bright red fruit are a bird favorite, plants are dioecious (male and female flowers occur on separate plants) 
Deer Resistance: High
Zone: 7-9
Native Status: NC native, common in the Coastal Plain
Provenance: NC, seed grown