YAUPON
Product Description:
Yaupon plants ship late April to early May in 3 ½ inch pots. Order early for best availability. Detailed planting information and growing instructions are included with each order. Available only in the contiguous US.
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Key Features:
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Key Features:
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Customer Reviews
First year of growth and looking healthy going into mid autumn here in North East PA. We’ll see how it does in our high tunnel over winter!
I see that the description mentions it comes in a 3.5 in pot, but I still was not prepared for how small the plants would be when delivered. At $30 a pop, I was expecting more than a 4-inch seedling. I'll have to grow these in protected pots for years before I can transplant where I want them to go. Sharing this information with other so they are not also surprised. Hopefully it's a fast-growing plant. At least they appear healthy.
The Yaupon plant was healthy when it arrived. I have planted it in a container and it is thriving. I enjoy Yaupon tea as a light refreshing cold tea.
When I first saw it on the catalog, I thought it would be a great addition to my garden, native plant in my agricultural zone! It arrived healthy and happy, and I followed the instructions to get it acclimated to its new home. Now it ia growing in the summer heat, and I can't wait to start enjoying the tea.
| Plant Spacing | 10-12' |
| Plant height | 12-25' |
| Hardiness Zone | 7b-9 |
| Bearing Age | 2 years |
| Ripening Time | Year-round |
Initial Instructions
After unpacking, allow the plant a few days to gradually acclimate to full exposure. Select a location in full sun to part shade. In hot regions, give the plant some protection from hot afternoon sun. If you’re keeping your plant in a container, up-pot to a 6-8 inch pot and use a good quality potting mixture.
Cultivation
Yaupon is a low-maintenance, evergreen plant and thrives in containers or the landscape. Water regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy; do not let it dry out. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer in spring. For containerized plants, increase the pot size as the plant grows. Root-pruning when up-potting will help keep the plant happy. Remove suckers that appear from the roots unless you prefer your plant to grow to a shrubby thicket. Prune to shape as needed, as this will encourage new leaf production. Use the pruned leaves and stems for tea! In zones 6 and colder, protect the plants from frost; bring them indoors to a bright window during the cold months.
Size at Maturity
Yaupon is native to the Southeast United States and can reach 10-20 feet tall or more in its natural habitat. In containers, the plant can easily maintained at 3 feet tall or under depending on the container size and pruning habits.
Pollination
Yaupon trees come in both male and female types, and both are needed for berry production. Only the female trees will produce berries, but they aren’t self-fertile—so a male tree needs to be nearby for pollination. Female plants may produce bright red berries, which are highly ornamental and provide a valuable food source for various wildlife. However, please note that the berries are not safe for human consumption.
There's no way to tell the tree’s gender until it flowers, as male and female plants look identical in their vegetative state. Once they bloom, male flowers will have stamens and female flowers will have ovaries. Because of this, we don’t make any claims about the gender of the trees we sell. If you do have a female tree and there’s a male nearby, you can typically expect berry production within 2–3 years, once the plant is mature enough to flower.
We primarily offer this plant for its leaves and stems, which are harvested to make tea.
Harvest
Pick leaves and use fresh, dried, or roasted. Make a refreshing, antioxidant-rich tea using 3-6 grams of leaves steeped in a cup of hot water. Add lemon or milk, and sugar or honey to taste.
Pests & Diseases
Yaupon is naturally resistant to many pests and isn’t typically bothered by disease in its native habitat. Holly Leaf Miner, Spider Mites, Whitefly and Scale can be treated with Pyrethrins or Neem. Various fungal infections can be controlled with Neem. Follow label instructions for treating insects and disease.
Soil Type
Acidic garden soil or acid-loving potting soil for plants in containers. Yaupon prefers a pH of 5-6.
Light Requirements
Full sun to part shade.
