Weeping yaupon holly

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; the canopy is usually denser and fruiting better in full sun.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; established trees tolerate drought but benefit from deep watering during prolonged dry spells.

Soil

Adaptable to sandy, loamy or clay soils, including moderately alkaline soil; best in moist soil with good drainage. Tolerates brief wet periods and coastal salt spray.

Height

15-25 ft (4.6-7.6 m)

Spread

10-15 ft (3-4.6 m)

Flowers

Small white flowers in spring, mostly hidden among the leaves.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, glossy, dark green oval leaves with rounded teeth rather than sharp spines.

Growth

Moderate to fast in warm climates with adequate moisture.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.3 m)

3. After 2 years

   8 ft (2.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   9 ft (2.8 m)

5. After 5 years

   11 ft (3.3 m)

About 16 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and allow space for the hanging branches to develop without blocking paths.
• Water deeply through the first two growing seasons, letting the soil surface begin to dry between waterings.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or a soil test indicates a deficiency.
• Remove unwanted root suckers promptly, and retain or plant a male yaupon holly nearby if berries are important.

Pruning. Prune in late winter or early spring, removing dead, crossing or poorly placed branches and gradually establishing the desired trunk structure. Shorten only branches that obstruct access; repeated shearing spoils the weeping habit and reduces flowering and berries.

Late winter

Remove damaged or crossing wood and make any necessary structural pruning cuts.

Spring

Plant where winters are cold; check soil moisture regularly as new growth begins.

Late spring

Check for flowers and confirm that a male yaupon nearby flowers at the same time if fruit is wanted.

Summer

Water young trees during dry weather, remove suckers and inspect leaves and stems for scale insects.

Autumn

Plant in mild-winter areas and refresh mulch without piling it against the trunk.

Winter

Enjoy the berries and leave them for birds; water newly planted trees during dry, frost-free weather.

• Use as a specimen in a lawn or broad planting bed where its hanging branches can reach towards the ground.
• Place beside a large courtyard or terrace, far enough from paving to avoid repeated clearance pruning.
• Underplant with low evergreen sedges or ferns to contrast with the arching canopy.
• Combine with native shrubs and grasses in a wildlife planting, retaining its winter berries for birds.

Garden styles it suits: Southern, Architectural minimal, Wildlife garden, Coastal, Traditional and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Dwarf palmetto, Pink muhly grass, Oakleaf hydrangea, Christmas fern, Virginia sweetspire and Dwarf mondo grass.

Wildlife: Spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other insects. Birds eat the berries and use the dense evergreen canopy for shelter.

• Scale insects can cause yellowing, sticky honeydew and black sooty mould; inspect stems and leaf undersides, conserve beneficial insects and use a labelled horticultural oil when needed.
• Spider mites may cause fine stippling and dull foliage in hot, dry weather; rinse foliage with water and avoid unnecessary broad-spectrum insecticides.
• Persistently waterlogged soil can cause root decline; improve drainage or move young plants rather than continuing to water saturated ground.
• Few or no berries usually means insufficient pollination, heavy shade or pruning that removed flowering wood; provide a male yaupon nearby, improve light where practical and prune less.

Treat the berries and foliage as toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten. Berries can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort; foliage contains caffeine and other compounds and is not suitable as animal forage. Small accidental berry ingestions usually cause gastrointestinal upset rather than severe poisoning, but seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

• Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)

  The ordinary species has similar small, rounded-toothed leaves and red fruit, but usually forms an upright shrub or small tree without the long, curtain-like hanging branchlets.

• Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)

  Its small evergreen leaves can look similar, but its fruit is black rather than red and most forms lack the strongly weeping tree habit.

• Weeping English holly (Ilex aquifolium 'Pendula')

  It also has hanging branches and red berries, but its leaves are much larger and commonly have sharp spines.

The cultivar name 'Pendula' comes from Latin for hanging or pendulous and describes its drooping branches.

Propagation. Root semi-ripe cuttings in summer to preserve the weeping cultivar. Seedlings vary, will not reliably retain the weeping habit and may take several years to flower.

Accepted botanical name

Ilex vomitoria

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Cuba, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mexico Southeast, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.

Measured

Soil pH 4.5 to 7. Average height 415 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.