# Yaupon Holly (*Ilex vomitoria*) Yaupon Holly is a cheerful little shrub that has shiny green leaves and bright red berries. It can grow in many places and is loved by birds who eat its berries! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Ilex, Yaupon ![Yaupon Holly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ilex_vomitoria.jpg&width=800) Photo: Luteus, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ilex_vomitoria.jpg) ## Appearance The Yaupon Holly is an evergreen shrub or small tree with small, glossy dark green oval leaves. Female plants bear abundant clusters of vibrant red, pearl-like berries that persist through winter, making it visually striking compared to deciduous plants. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Aquifoliales - **Family:** Aquifoliaceae - **Genus:** Ilex ## Interesting facts - Wow! Ancient people brewed its leaves into a special caffeinated tea for ceremonies! - Wow! Despite its scientific name 'vomitoria,' the leaves for tea are perfectly safe and healthy! - Wow! It's the only plant native to North America that naturally contains caffeine! - Wow! Its berries are super shiny, making them easily visible to birds and people! ## Special abilities - **Winter Food Cache:** Yaupon Holly has bright red berries that hang on all winter, providing crucial food for birds when other sources are scarce. - **Saltwater Survivor:** Yaupon Holly can tolerate salty air and soil, helping it thrive near coasts where many plants struggle to grow. - **Drought Warrior:** Yaupon Holly has deep roots that help it find water in dry soil, letting it survive tough droughts. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-760 cm - **Spread:** 300-450 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Feeds on persistent red berries. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar from its small flowers. - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its evergreen leaves. ## Traits - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low While the berries are pretty, they are not safe to eat. Always look but don't touch! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Yaupon Holly? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Yaupon Holly? 150-760 cm ### How wide does Yaupon Holly spread? 300-450 cm ### How big are the flowers on Yaupon Holly? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does Yaupon Holly bloom? Spring ### Is Yaupon Holly edible? Yes ### Is Yaupon Holly toxic? Mild ### What is Yaupon Holly's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ashley River Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashley-river-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-lookout-coast-guard-station) — US · Historic Site - [Bastrop State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bastrop-state-park) — Texas, US · State Park - [Bodie Island Lifesaving and Coast Guard Station](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bodie-island-lifesaving-and-coast-guard-station) — North Carolina, US · Historic Site - [Cape Lookout Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-lookout-village-historic-district) — North Carolina, US · Historic District - [Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-key-scrub-state-reserve) — Florida, US · State Park [View all places to see Yaupon Holly](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/yaupon-holly) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Yaupon Holly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yaupon-holly)