We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Ilex vomitoria - Sol. ex Aiton.

Common Name Yaupon Holly,
Family Aquifoliaceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards Although no specific reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, the fruits of at least some members of this genus contain saponins and are slightly toxic. They can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and stupor if eaten in quantity[274]. The fruit is poisonous[177].
Habitats Sandy woods and clearings[43]. Low moist woods, especially near the coast[149]. Often forming dense thickets along streams and pond margins and shallow swamp lands[229].
Range South-eastern N. America - Virginia to Florida, west to Texas and Arkansas.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Ilex vomitoria Yaupon Holly,


Ilex vomitoria Yaupon Holly,

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Ilex vomitoria is an evergreen Shrub growing to 6 m (19ft 8in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year, in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from October to December. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

A mildly stimulating beverage containing caffeine is made from the dried and roasted leaves[43, 171, 183]. The tea is stimulating and intoxicating[161]. The leaves are first steeped in cold and then in boiling water[183]. They are also used to flavour ice cream and soft drinks[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Emetic

A decoction of the leaves is emetic[4, 11, 171]. The plant was used ritually by several N. American Indian tribes. The leaves were toasted over a fire and then boiled for several hours. The resulting thick black liquid was then drunk and this was followed by immediate vomiting[213]. This was often used a a purification rite prior to hunting[213].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Hedge  Hedge  Wood

This species is occasionally used for hedging in the southern states of America[82]. Wood - hard, heavy, strong, close grained. It weighs 46lb per cubic foot. Too small for commercial exploitation, the wood is used locally for turnery, inlay work, woodenware etc[82, 149, 227, 229].

Special Uses

Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils so long as they are not water-logged[200]. This species is not fully hardy in Britain, the plants are incapable of withstanding our hardest winters[11]. A slow-growing species in the wild, often forming dense thickets from root suckers[229]. The leaves remain on the plant for 2 - 3 years, falling just before the appearance of new leaves in the spring[82]. Flowers are produced on the current year's growth[229]. Resents root disturbance, especially as the plants get older[11]. It is best to place the plants into their permanent positions as soon as possible, perhaps giving some winter protection for their first year or two[K]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. It can take 18 months to germinate. Stored seed generally requires two winters and a summer before it will germinate and should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. Scarification, followed by a warm stratification and then a cold stratification may speed up the germination time[78, 80]. The seedlings are rather slow-growing. Pot them up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame for their first year. It is possible to plant them out into a nursery bed in late spring of the following year, but they should not be left here for more than two years since they do not like being transplanted. Alternatively, grow them on in their pots for a second season and then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Give them a good mulch and some protection for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of almost ripe wood with a heel, August in a shaded position in a cold frame. Leave for 12 months before potting up. Layering in October. Takes 2 years[78].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas (southwest), Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia (southeast), Texas), Mexico (Chiapas, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Ilex aculeolata Shrub3.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Ilex aquifoliumHolly, English holl, Christmas Holly, Common Holly, English HollyShrub9.0 5-9 SLMHFSNDM224
Ilex asprella Shrub3.0 -  LMHSNM02 
Ilex cassineCassine, Dahoon, Cassine HollyTree10.0 7-11 SLMHSNM112
Ilex chapaensis Shrub10.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Ilex coriaceaLarge GallberryShrub3.0 6-9  LMHSNM10 
Ilex cornutaHorned Holly, Chinese hollyShrub4.0 7-9 MLMHSNM12 
Ilex crenataJapanese Holly, Box Leaved HollyShrub5.0 6-8 SLMHSNM103
Ilex glabraInkberryShrub3.0 3-7 SLMHSNM102
Ilex integraMochi TreeTree6.0 6-9  LMHSNM10 
Ilex latifoliaTarajoTree10.0 6-9  LMHSNM10 
Ilex macropoda Tree13.0 6-9  LMHSNM10 
Ilex opacaAmerican HollyShrub15.0 4-8 SLMHSNM223
Ilex pedunculosa Shrub10.0 4-8  LMHSNM113
Ilex pubescens Shrub3.5 7-10  LMHSNM02 
Ilex purpurea Tree12.0 7-10  LMHSNM02 
Ilex rotundaKurogane hollyTree20.0 6-9  LMHSNM01 
Ilex verticillataWinterberry, Common winterberryShrub2.0 3-7 SLMHSNMWe13 
Ilex x altaclerensisHollyShrub4.0 5-9 SLMHSNM003
Ilex yunnanensis Shrub4.0 5-9  LMHSNM01 
Quercus ilexHolly Oak, Evergreen OakTree25.0 7-10 SLMHSNM523
Quercus ilex ballotaHolm OakTree25.0 6-9 SLMHSNM523

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Sol. ex Aiton.

Botanical References

1143200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

bianca kaye   Sun Nov 23 12:18:26 2003

it has yellow bearys and green leafs and the bearys stay yellow

Kevin Feinstein   Fri Nov 7 2008

Does anyone have any nutritional information on the tea brewed from I. vomitoria? Yerba mate', Ilex paraguayensis, is a superfood. Drinking it can satisfy tremendous vitamin and mineral requirements.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Ilex vomitoria  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.