| General Description | Yaupon has deep green leaves and bright red berries year-round. It also
has small greenish-white flowers from March to May. |
| ID Characteristic | One of the identifying features of Ilex vomitoria is the dark green, leathery leaves that are
present all year. The shallow teeth on the leaves and the brightly coloured
berries can also be used to identify Ilex vomitoria. |
| Shape | Yaupon is a multi–stemmed, rounded or pyramidal tree. This plant is
also typically an understory plant. |
| Landscape | Ilex vomitoria can contribute to the landscape in many ways. It can be used for mass
planting, informal screening, as a barrier, as a hedge, and as an espalier. It is a wonderful
replacement for Buxus considering the hardiness zones. Many species of wildlife
utilize this plant and its evergreen nature. Small mammals – raccoons, foxes, skunks, and other
related mammals – will often eat the fruit. In the winter many animals use this plant as a form of
protection. |
| Propagation | The best way to get Ilex vomitoria is to transplant part of a mature, healthy plant into a
new area. To ensure successful transplanting, transplant in the fall or spring, which will prevent
summer heat stress.
Ilex vomitoria can also be grown from seeds. When growing from seeds it will take about
18 months for germination to occur and should be planted in the fall and left outside for the
winter. The cold of the winter is required to ensure successful germination.
Along with this, the plants should be spread in flats. After the plant has begun to grow, it can be
transplanted. The last way that propagation can be achieved is through cuttings. Cuttings should be planted 15
cm deep, in a flat of 1 part peat and 3 parts sand. Rooting hormones will increase root
production. The cuttings will take between 60 and 90 days to root, if in a humid environment
between 18°C and 24°C. |
| Cultivation | This plant can adapt to many soil conditions. It can be found in both very wet and very dry
conditions. It is also tolerant of salt. Ilex vomitoria prefer moderately acidic to neutral
soils, with a pH from 4.5 to 7.0. To encourage deep root growth this plan should receive infrequent,
intense watering. While more frequent, light watering will cause the plant to grow shallow roots.
Along with this, regular pruning will cause the plant to grow denser than it otherwise would.
Furthermore, control burns are often used to prevent it from becoming an understory tree. Fertilizer
is not required but if it is used a fertilizer with equal parts should be used. The recommended
concentration is 13-13-13, which will cause better growth and quicker establishment. Lastly,
trimming the foliage prior to transplanting can increase success and reduce moisture loss. |
| Pests | There are no serious pest problems however leaf miner does occasionally occur. Additionally, deer will often eat the leaves and small mammals will eat the fruit. |
| Notable Specimens | There is a wonderful specimen at the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens. The
University of Delaware Botanic Gardens also functions as an outdoor classroom and has an
entire section dedicated to Ilex vomitoria and plants with similar attributes. |
| Habitat | Yaupon is commonly found in moist soils, specifically along the beaches and on
shoreline forests. It is also often found as an understory plant. |
| Bark/Stem Description | The stems initially appear purplish and then to a white-grey colour. The bark is an eye
catching white/grey colour. The bark is usually smooth and thin. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | The leaf buds are about 6 mm apart from each other. Yaupon flower
buds are rounded and appear to be covered in curved scales. Whereas the
leaf buds tend to have a smooth appearance to them. The flower buds are almost flat against the
bark and the leaf buds are at a 45° angle. |
| Leaf Description | The leaves remain a dark green colour with a leather like texture all year. The underside
of the leaves is lighter than the top of them. They are simple, ovate and between
1.3 cm and 3.8 cm long. The leaves are in an alternate arrangement. Along with this, the leaf
margins have shallow teeth from the tip to the base. |
| Flower Description | The flowers bloom from March to May on both the male and female plants. The petals are very small and are about 5 mm long. (Nash-Loop) The flowers are
a greenish–white colour and grow in pairs or alone along the leaf axis. Furthermore, the flowers
have a pleasant smell and are pollinated by butterflies. |
| Fruit Description | The fruit is about 6 mm in diameter and is translucent red. They
stay on the plant throughout winter and are in dense clusters. Each fruit has 4 seeds inside. The
seeds are hard and oblong shaped. Yaupon fruit is only present on female trees. Consuming the berries can cause vomiting and nausea when ingested, so caution
should occur when handling. |
| Colour Description | The foliage is a dark green colour, and the fruit is bright red. The stems
begin as a purplish colour and later become a white/grey colour. Lastly, the flowers
are a greenish–white colour. |
| Texture Description | The bark is thin and smooth. The leaf buds are also smooth, and the flower
buds have a rounded, scale texture to them. Overall, Yaupon has a medium-
fine texture. |