Yaupon 'Pride of Houston'
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Ilex vomitoria 'Pride of Houston'
Ilex vomitoria, commonly known as Yaupon, is a native shrub/small tree found in various areas such as sandy woods, dunes, open fields, forest edges, and wet swamps. It is commonly seen along the coastal plain and maritime forests and can be found from Virginia to Florida, Arkansas, and Texas. This evergreen plant typically grows upright in an irregularly branched form, reaching a height of 10-20' and a width of 10', but can grow taller under optimal conditions. The glossy, evergreen, dark green leaves are leathery, elliptic to ovate-oblong, and have toothed margins. Small greenish-white flowers bloom in the spring on both male and female plants. The flowers are fragrant but are usually inconspicuous. After pollination, female plants bear berry-like red fruits that ripen in the fall and last throughout the winter. The fruit attracts birds.
Native American Indians used the leaves to make a ceremonial emetic drink. Consuming in large quantities caused a cleansing of the digestive system. This is how the plant got its specific epithet.
Yaupon can grow in various soils, in dry to wet conditions, and in full sun to part shade. It generally tolerates drought better than most other hollies. Prune in winter if necessary. Yaupon is a dioecious plant with separate male and female plants. Female plants need a male pollinator in the area to bear fruit. Unless naturalization is desired, promptly remove root suckers.
BONAP MAP
Height: 10’-20'
Spread 8’-12’
Bloom: April
Light: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium, High
Zone: 7, 8, 9
Origin: Southeastern United States
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
