Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)

How often to water a Yaupon

The water range for yaupon runs from dry to wet. It can withstand drought, salt spray and occasional flooding. One source lists the range as wet to well-drained. Its soil drainage can be well drained, moist, occasionally dry, occasionally wet or poorly drained. It also tolerates drought and poor drainage.

• Water: Dry to wet^1,2

Best soil for a Yaupon

Yaupon accepts drainage that is well drained, moist, occasionally dry, occasionally wet or poorly drained. A source notes that it tolerates drought and poor drainage. The recorded pH range is 7 to 7.9. One source says it will grow in soil with a pH in the 7's. Its listed water range runs from dry to wet, and one source gives wet to well-drained.

• Soil drainage: Well drained, moist, occasionally dry, occasionally wet and poorly drained³
• Soil pH: pH 7–7.9⁴

Pruning a Yaupon

Yaupon can take heavy pruning. The recorded pruning type is hard renewal pruning. Mature height is 10 to 20.5 ft (3.05 to 6.25 m), and mature spread is 15 to 20 ft (4.57 to 6.1 m). One source says this holly can rapidly reach 10 to 20 feet tall. Its habit is erect and spreading.

• Pruning: Hard renewal pruning¹

How to propagate a Yaupon

Seed and stem cuttings are the recorded propagation methods. One source advises that you propagate by seed or stem cutting. Semi-hardwood cuttings can be made to root, according to another source. Cuttings are taken from stems, while seed is the other route. Yaupon, Ilex vomitoria, is a shrub, and these two methods are the ones recorded for it.

• Propagation: Seed and stem cuttings^1,3

Common problems

Occasional pest problems include holly leafminer, spider mites, whiteflies and scale, and aphids also appear. One source says these problems form a long list but none are normally serious. Disease problems that may occur are leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot and powdery mildew. It is also highly resistant to damage from deer.

• Common pests: holly leafminer, spider mites, whiteflies, scale insects and aphids^1,2
• Common diseases: leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot and powdery mildew¹

Questions and answers

How much sun does yaupon need?

Full sun is preferred, and it also grows in part shade or full shade. One source says to plant it in full sun to deep shade. It is a broadleaf evergreen.

Where is yaupon hardy?

It is listed for USDA zones 7a to 9b. Its native status in the lower 48 states is native. Its native range includes the regions coded ALA, FLA, LOU and TEX. It can withstand drought, salt spray and occasional flooding.

How big does yaupon get?

Mature height is 10 to 20.5 ft (3.05 to 6.25 m). Mature spread is 15 to 20 ft (4.57 to 6.1 m). Its growth rate is recorded as rapid, and its habit is erect and spreading.