The dwarf yaupon holly is a hardy plant that may be planted any time of year. However, planting the dwarf yaupon holly in early spring, after the threat of all winter frost has passed, will give the shrub ample time to become established before dry periods in summer and before possible frosts in late fall and winter.

How do you plant yaupon?

Plant yaupon holly in a location with plenty of sun. Although it tolerates afternoon shade, you'll get more, and better, berries in full sun. Keep the soil around the shrub moist until it becomes established. Don't amend the soil or fertilize yaupon hollies at planting time unless the soil is very poor.

How long does it take to grow yaupon?

Youngsters Shoot Up Fast

Although the overall growth rate of weeping yaupon is moderate, young trees grow more quickly. Young weeping yaupon trees getting established can grow at a rate of 2 to 3 feet a year. A young tree planted in a Florida garden attained a 10 foot height in just two years.

Where does yaupon grow best?

Best suited for USDA hardiness zones 7a-9b, yaupon hollies should be planted in a spot where they'll receive full or partial sun. They are both drought and salt tolerant, meaning this plant can find a home in a variety of landscapes. Remember to purchase a female holly if you want a plant that produces berries.

How far apart should yaupon holly be planted?

One of the most commonly used foundation plants is dwarf Yaupon holly. This plant will eventually grow 8 feet high and 8 feet wide. Ideal spacing, then, would be 8 feet apart. Hedge plants are often planted so their canopies touch, particularly if they're to be sheared into a formal look.

How to grow Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Very Low Maintenance) with detailed description

What does a Yaupon holly look like?

The yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) is an evergreen shrub or small tree with green leaves and red berries that will add color to your garden throughout the year. ... The glossy green leaves are oval, up to one inch long, and feature fine-toothed margins. The tooths on the margin may be pointed or rounded.

Is yaupon native to Texas?

Native from southern Virginia south to Florida and west to southeast Oklahoma and central Texas, Yaupon is a picturesque, upright, single- or multi-trunked shrub or small tree, growing 12-45 ft high but usually no higher than 25 ft. Female plants produce prodigious amounts of bright red, persistent berries.

Is Yaupon holly poisonous to dogs?

Although not considered very poisonous, the attractive red or black berries should be considered dangerous to small children [and animals]." Symptoms listed are "nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stupor due to depression of the central nervous system." They also note, "These are the hollies used extensively as Christmas ...

What is a weeping Yaupon?

Weeping Yaupon Holly is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to eastern North America. It is easy to grow with a tolerance for either dry and wet sites, drought and salt and urban conditions. It can reach 15 to 20 feet tall, sometimes as tall as 30 feet, and 6 to 12 feet wide.

How fast do Nellie Stevens grow?

Nellie Stevens holly can grow up to three feet in one year.

Are Yaupon holly roots invasive?

Climate. Yaupon holly roots are not a problem, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, but deep watering helps the plant develop a strong taproot, which makes it easier for the holly to survive periods of drought.

Do all yaupon have berries?

When you go to a commercial nursery to purchase a yaupon, they usually all have berries because that's what the customers want. So, you buy the little plants and take them home, and the next year, unless you have a male yaupon within about 40 ft. of your plants, there will be no berries.

When can you cut back yaupon?

Dwarf yaupon hollies can be lightly pruned or sheared almost any time of year. That said, to avoid freeze damage to tender new growth stimulated by pruning, cease pruning or shearing in fall, two months prior to the average first-frost date in your area. When plants have stopped growing in winter pruning can resume.

When can I prune yaupon bushes?

Although dwarf yaupon doesn't need to be pruned regularly, gardeners who want to maintain its shape or keep its size under control can prune the shrub annually in winter or early spring. Gardeners can also allow the shrub to maintain its natural shaping and prune it minimally.

When should I prune my Yaupon holly?

The plant flowers on new growth, so wait until winter to prune yaupon hollies to avoid cutting off the berries. This way you can add the trimmings to holiday wreaths, flower arrangements and crafts.

What is a Savannah Holly?

Savannah Holly is a beautifully shaped tree, with a narrow, open pyramidal to columnar form (Fig. 1). A 35-foot-tall tree can be eight feet wide in 40 years, indicating a moderate growth rate. ... Many nurserymen propagate from female trees so most nursery trees have berries.

How tall does a weeping Yaupon get?

Capable of reaching 30 feet or more in height, Weeping Yaupon Holly is most often seen 15 to 20 feet tall with a spread of only 6 to 12 feet. Old plants will spread to 25 feet.

Can you smoke yaupon?

Yaupon Holly is “America's forgotten medicinal plant”. In addition to its many traditional medicinal uses, it was smoked. Often blended with other herbs, both Native Americans & southerners enjoyed smoking Yaupon. ... Nicotiana Rustica seems to have been an enjoyable smoke in the south.

Are hydrangeas poisonous to dogs?

Hydrangeas are Toxic to Dogs

"The toxic component of the hydrangea plant is a cyanogenic glycoside." The leaves, buds, flowers, and bark all contain the toxin so if your dog munches any part of your hydrangeas, he could get sick.

What are the benefits of yaupon?

Yaupon tea is a natural source of caffeine, theobromine, and several polyphenols like chlorogenic acids, which may help reduce inflammation, improve brain health, and protect against conditions like diabetes.

Does Yaupon grow in shade?

While yaupon holly will grow in shade, it prefers sunny locations, which will provide more of the wildlife-pleasing fruit. Keep the soil moist with regular watering and mulch until the plant is established, but fertilization should not be necessary. Once established, it should need no special care.

What is a pigeon berry?

Pigeonberry is a perennial herb about 1 foot tall that grows beneath trees and shrubs. The flowers are about 1/4 inch across, white to pink, growing on the last 2-3 inches of the stems. ... Pigeonberry appeals to the eye when it blooms pale pink and bears scarlet fruit simultaneously.

What animals eat Yaupon?

Yaupon holly berries are a significant resource for wildlife, including songbirds, gamebirds, and small mammals such as raccoons and squirrels. Notably, at least 28 species of birds reportedly feed on the fruit, a valuable food source during the winter when other resources may be scarce (Martin and Mott 1997).

Are yaupon leaves edible?

You can use fresh, dried, or roasted leaves and/or stems to make yaupon tea, but avoid the poisonous berries. ... You can also roast the leaves in the oven or parch on a stove top at 350-400 degrees F. Native Americans traditionally parched them to a dark brown over a fire.