Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
Also known as Yaupon, Cassena, Cassina
Climate Match for your location
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A native southeastern shrub with small, glossy evergreen leaves and red berries on female plants. Historically used by Native Americans to make a caffeinated tea.
Why grow it
Yaupon holly offers a cold-hardy native alternative to tropical tea plants, tolerating temperatures down to zone 7 and requiring minimal fertilizer once established. Unlike many caffeinated beverage crops, it thrives in southeastern climates without extensive cultivation inputs, and its dual-purpose utility as both ornamental and functional plant makes efficient use of garden space. The species also supports native pollinators and wildlife better than non-native hollies.
Watch out for
Female plants produce abundant self-seeding berries that may volunteer elsewhere in the landscape; male plants avoid this but provide no berries for wildlife. Yaupon prefers well-draining soil and can struggle in compacted clay or poorly drained sites common in southeastern yards. Leaf harvest timing and drying method significantly affect tea quality and flavor, with inconsistent processing often producing less palatable results than properly cured material.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Aquifoliaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Southeastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A native southeastern shrub with small, glossy evergreen leaves and red berries on female plants. Historically used by Native Americans to make a caffeinated tea.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Yaupon Holly grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Yaupon holly offers a cold-hardy native alternative to tropical tea plants, tolerating temperatures down to zone 7 and requiring minimal fertilizer once established. Unlike many caffeinated beverage crops, it thrives in southeastern climates without extensive cultivation inputs, and its dual-purpose utility as both ornamental and functional plant makes efficient use of garden space. The species also supports native pollinators and wildlife better than non-native hollies.
Watch out for
Female plants produce abundant self-seeding berries that may volunteer elsewhere in the landscape; male plants avoid this but provide no berries for wildlife. Yaupon prefers well-draining soil and can struggle in compacted clay or poorly drained sites common in southeastern yards. Leaf harvest timing and drying method significantly affect tea quality and flavor, with inconsistent processing often producing less palatable results than properly cured material.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Aquifoliaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Southeastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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