Weeping yaupon holly is an evergreen shrub or small tree cultivar of the native yaupon holly in the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). This tree has an irregular weeping form with an open crown. It can have multiple trunks or a single trunk and usually grows 15 to 20 feet tall, although it can reach 30 feet and spread 6 to 20 feet wide. It prefers full sun to partial shade in well-drained average garden soil and isn't picky about pH. Once established, it is drought tolerant but will also tolerate short-term flooding, salt and urban conditions. There are separate male and female trees, with a male needing to be present for females to produce berries. This tree requires little pruning except to train it to a single trunk. Weeping yapon holly has small evergreen leaves. In summer, inconspicuous flowers attract pollinators. In fall and winter, the female tree produces a spectacular display of translucent red berries that attract birds and small mammals. Buy trees in the fall with berries to ensure you get a female. Use weeping yaupon holly as a specimen or accent for its unusual form. It can also be used as a foundation plant or with several planted 10 to 12 feet apart as a screen or hedge. It will work in a drought-tolerant garden or a rain garden. The berries add winter interest. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Watch for scale, leaf miners, mites, aphids. More information on Ilex vomitoria .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheIlex cornuta 'Burfordii'Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens'Ilex x attenuata Foster Hybrid Group
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Weeping
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenulate
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Small green oval leaves with toothed margins are 1-2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.
Flower color
White
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
Small insignificant separate male and female flowers
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Long-lasting; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Small round fleshy red drupes in fall to winter
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Thin, smooth and light gray bark.. As the tree ages, the bark might become a bit scaly.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Thin gray branches
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Flowers attract pollinators. Birds and small mammals will eat the berries