Yaupon Holly

Ilex vomitoria Aiton

EYE-lex vom-ah-TORE-ee-ah

Aquifoliaceae

Explanation of name: For Ilex see Ilex cassine. The name vomitoria comes from the black drink made from this species (see I. cassine for additional information), which causes vomiting after consumption.

Natural range: New Jersey to Texas and Florida. In Florida, north and central regions.

Natural habitat: Usually in wet habitats, swamps, floodplains, sometimes dunes (NE4)

Recognition: Small trees or (more commonly in cultivation) very compact shrubs, having small (<1”) elliptic leaves with toothed margins. The pea-sized fruits are red, sometimes darkening.

Landscape uses: A favorite shrub for close, boxwood-style clipping, often used for shaped hedges and highly controlled shaping in Florida. The plants are dioecious (separate male and female plants). There are numerous “dwarf” cultivars with so much confusion in the applications and spellings of the names (esp. ‘Schillings’ vs. ‘Schellings’ which are hopelessly confused, sometimes with both appearing in the same “authoritative” publication), as well as their perceived ability to set fruit. Information pertaining to any one name from any single source will contradict other sources.

            For information on the male (fruitless, but see above) cultivar ‘Schellings (Schillings) Dwarf’ see UFFPS275. Prune this cultivar with the base broader than the top. It tolerates dry, sterile conditions. The cultivar name ‘Stokes Dwarf’ subsumes the cultivar names ‘Schillings’ and ‘Schillings Dwarf’ according to the Plantfinder (1/15/05). The confusing name ‘Nana Schillings’ is encountered. ‘Nana’ is a female (but see above) cultivar 3-5’ X 10’ (NE4). The weeping Ilex vomitoria forma pendula Foret & Solymosy, Baileya 8: 83. 1960 makes a beautiful tree. (Note: this is a form, not a variety, not a cultivar. According to DEH, the cultivar name ‘Folsoms Weeping’ is the same.)