Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
Tough evergreen holly with translucent red berries that persist into winter for birds. The only native plant containing caffeine — its leaves brew the traditional yaupon tea.
- Family
- Aquifoliaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 10–20 ft
- Spacing
- 8–12 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade, shade
- Soil moisture
- dry
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral
- Bloom
- April, May
- Bloom colors
- white
- Wildlife value
- songbirds, butterflies, larval host, pollinators
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~39 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- specimen, hedge or screen, erosion control
- Native states
- AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TX, VA
Related native plants
More Ilex species
- American Holly (Ilex opaca)
- Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)
- Possumhaw (Ilex decidua)
- Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
- Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine)
- Large Gallberry (Ilex coriacea)