Virginia Tech Dendrology

yaupon Aquifoliaceae Ilex vomitoria Aiton symbol: ILVO
Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen, margin with rounded teeth, 1/2 to 1 1/2 inch long, shiny dark green above, pale below.
Flower: Species is dioecious; small greenish white, males numerous and in clusters, female solitary or in small clusters, appear in late spring.
Fruit: Berry-like drupe, dark orange to red, 1/4 to 1/3 inch in diameter, ripen in late summer, persistent and usually numerous.
Twig: Slender, stiff, initially purplish brown, velvety, but turning light gray and glabrous, buds very small and dark.
Bark: Thin, smooth and light gray, may be come a bit scaly.
Form: Evergreen shrub forming thickets with numerous stems and branches, reaches up to 20 feet.
Looks like: myrtle holly - large gallberry - inkberry - dahoon

Additional Range Information: Ilex vomitoria is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information