How to Grow and Care for Yaupon Holly

Yaupon holly, also sometimes known as just yaupon, is a broadleaf, evergreen shrub or small tree that adds vibrance to your garden throughout the year, though it is considered a holiday plant for its festive color combination. This versatile option can grow in both full sun and deep shade, as well as a wide range of soil types, and it's perennial in warmer regions.

Keep in mind that yaupon holly and its berries are toxic to people and pets.

Yaupon Holly Care

Native to the southeastern United States, yaupon holly is often planted as an informal hedge shrub or privacy screen, since it requires minimal shaping. Here are the main care requirements for growing yaupon holly:

• Choose a sunny spot for yaupon holly; though it can grow in full shade, it will produce fewer of its signature, colorful berries.
• Prepare moist but well-draining soil, though this plant is tolerant of most soil types.
• Water regularly, though yaupon holly also can withstand some drought.
• Fertilize once or twice a year after the plant has become established.
  

Light

Yaupon holly tolerates full and partial sun. However, growth in full sun will yield more berries.

Soil

The yaupon holly prefers sandy soil but grows well in most soil compositions. It has a high tolerance for salty soil, making it a good choice for planting near the ocean.

Water

Yaupon hollies are somewhat drought resistant but should be watered regularly. Water the root ball twice or three times a week during the plant's first year and then weekly. Use rainwater and distilled water rather than tap water and water during the morning or evening.

Temperature and Humidity

Yaupon holly's USDA zones are 7 through 9, which means it is hardy in temperatures that dip as low as 0 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. It can adapt to various climates but prefers slightly cooler and humid weather. It may struggle to survive winters at the higher end of its hardiness range. Yaupon hollies are generally cold-resistant.

Fertilizer

You can fertilize your yaupon holly lightly once in the spring and fall, and be sure not to fertilize during planting. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions. You may apply a thin layer of mulch to the ground but avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers.

Types of Yaupon Holly

• I. vomitoria 'Folsom's Weeping': Dense shrub with small, neat, narrow foliage; produces many berries; 1-inch oval, toothed leaves
• I. vomitoria 'Nana' or I. vomitoria 'Dwarf': Also called dwarf yaupon holly, grows about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet
• I. vomitoria 'Pride of Houston': One of the heaviest berry producers cherished by birds from fall through winter; grows about 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide
• I. vomitoria 'Schilling's Dwarf': Seldom reaches heights of more than 3 feet tall; highly salt tolerant
• I. vomitoria 'Stokes Dwarf': Grows 2 to 3 feet tall; can withstand drought or flooding
• I. vomitoria 'Will Fleming': Grows up to 15 feet tall; drought and salt-spray tolerant, tolerates wet soil

Pruning

While typically unnecessary, you can lightly prune a yaupon holly to maintain your desired shape or limit disease spread. If the tree is small, prune the lower side branches.

You can rejuvenate badly overgrown shrubs by cutting away up to one-third of the branches. Cut selected stems down the base of the plant. When shaping as a hedge, cut the ends of branches back to 1/4 inch above a node facing the direction you want the branch to grow. Cut away suckers from the base of the plant as they appear unless your goal is to encourage the shrub to grow into a thicket.

Propagating Yaupon Holly

Yaupon holly is best propagated from small, semi-hardwood cuttings taken in the fall. Here's how to propagate a yaupon holly:

1. Select small branches and sever the cutting below a set of leaves.
2. Remove the lower leaves, then coat the cut end with a rooting hormone.
3. Place the cutting in a mixture of perlite and coarse sand, and keep the cutting moist and warm until roots develop.
4. After 8 to 10 weeks, you can transplant the cutting into a large pot filled with a loam and sand mix.
5. Transplant to a permanent location.
   

How to Grow Yaupon Holly From Seed

If you are willing to handle the berries, is also possible to harvest them and extract their seeds to grow even more yaupon holly. Here's how.

1. Select berries and remove their outer flesh.
2. Place a soil mixture of half loam and half perlite into a 4-inch pot, leaving some room at the top.
   
3. Cover the seeds with loam and a thin layer of sand.
4. Cover them with plastic and place them on a 70-degree Fahrenheit heating mat for a month or two.
5. Move the pots into a refrigerator and store them there for two to three months.
6. Move the pots to a partially shaded area and remove the plastic.
7. Grow in partial shade for the first summer and winter.
8. Transplant the plants in the spring.

Potting and Repotting Yaupon Holly

You can pot a yaupon holly in any container with adequate drainage, but heavier pots made of wood and terra-cotta are ideal. Fill your container with potting soil, loosen the plant's roots with your fingers, and insert the shrub. Keep the soil moist and fertilize every one to two weeks.

When the plant has outgrown it's current container, select a new pot that's one size larger and fill with fresh potting mix. Gently removed the plant and transfer it to the new container. Water well to settle the roots.

Overwintering

The yaupon holly does well during winter and can survive in low temperatures. You may prune the shrub lightly or bundle its branches with ropes to prevent damage from heavy snowfall.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Yaupon hollies are relatively resistant to many pests and diseases but can be susceptible to leafminers. The eggs hatch quickly and can cause discoloration and holes in the leaves. You should remove damaged leaves manually to stop a further infestation and spray an insecticide on the plant. Remove affected leaves and adjust watering and fertilization practices as needed. Other pests that are attracted to yaupon hollies include spider mites, whitefies, and scale insects.

Yaupon hollies can develop fungal diseases, such as leaf spot, black root rot, and tar spot, which thrive in poorly drained soil. Powdery mildew can also pose a minor problem with yaupon holly plants and can be treated with fungicides.

How to Get Yaupon Holly to Bloom

Yaupon holly plants should bloom readily as long as they are healthy.

Bloom Months

Yaupon holly blooms in the spring, typically from March until May.

What Do Yaupon Holly Blooms Look and Smell Like?

The flowers produced by yaupon holly are small and white, though sometimes they are slightly pink. These blooms offer a sweet fragrance and are followed by signature, red holly berries.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Yaupon holly is a low-maintenance plant that should bloom without issue, but to make sure your plant is in the best shape possible, water it regularly and make sure it gets at least a few hours of sunlight each day.

Caring for Yaupon Holly After It Blooms

No specific care is needed for yaupon holly after it blooms. At this time, you will be able to enjoy the visual attraction of their red berries.

Deadheading Yaupon Holly

Do not deadhead yaupon holly, which would stop the plant from producing its festive-looking berries.

Common Problems With Yaupon Holly

The yaupon holly tends to be disease and pest-resistant, except for rare infestations and disease and the resulting damage. As with any tree, pay attention to its general health and the possible presence of insects and watch for these signs.

Yellowing Leaves

It's normal for some leaves to turn yellow and drop from the yaupon holly in the spring and summer. An abundance of yellowing leaves could also mean the plant is stressed due to underwatering, overwatering, transplant shock, or another cultural problem.

Browning Leaves

This plant can tolerate drought well. But a severe lack of water can turn leaves brown. The leaves could be experiencing windburn, as well, which tends to brown foliage, especially in late winter and early spring.