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YAUPON

Herb | yaupon

USDA Zones: 7b-9

Ilex vomitoria North America’s own caffeine source! Yaupon is a type of holly, a broadleaf evergreen, that is native to the southeastern US. Indigenous tribes valued the plant for its stimulating quality, but the plant fell into obscurity after colonists introduced tea (Camellia sinensis). More recently, Yaupon is enjoying a resurgence of interest. Leaf/stem preparation is simple, and the resulting tea has a mild, earthy flavor profile and can be compared to green or black tea minus the tannins (depending on the processing of the Yaupon leaf/stem). Yaupon’s high anti-oxidant content is an added bonus. The plants are handsome, textural shrubs with dense foliage and minimal fertility requirements. Established plants are drought tolerant, and they tolerate pruning well. 

Yaupon plants ship beginning of 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.
  • Full Sun
  • Partial Shade
  • Perennial
  • Tea

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Growing Tips & Guides

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Ilex vomitoria

Important: Yaupon Berries ae not safe for human consumption. We primarily offer this plant for its leaves and stems, which are harvested to make tea.

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. For containerized plants, increase the pot size as the plant grows. In zones 6 and colder, protect the plants from frost; bring them indoors to a bright window during the cold months.

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.

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