Yaupon Holly

Ilex vomitoria

Aquifoliaceae

North America's only native caffeine plant — the toasted leaves make a smooth tea. Don't eat the berries.

EdibleWild / foragedForagedTexas nativeDrought-toughMedicinalLow water

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) illustration — Texas Roots plant database, by Jordan Polasek

Sun

Full sun to shade

Water

Low

Soil

Tolerant

pH

5.0–7.5

Hardiness

Hardy native shrub/tree

Height

10–20 ft

Spacing

6–10 ft

Days to harvest

Leaves year-round

What it is

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) is in the Aquifoliaceae family. North America's only native caffeine plant — the toasted leaves make a smooth tea. Don't eat the berries.

How to grow it

It wants full sun to shade, water it low, and give it tolerant soil. Target a soil pH around 5.0–7.5. Space plants about 6–10 ft apart. Expect roughly Leaves year-round. Hardy native shrub/tree.

How it's used

Yaupon Holly is used: toasted leaves as tea.

🔎 How to identify it

Small glossy scalloped leaves
Dense twiggy growth
Red berries on female plants

Edibility

PartsLeaves (toasted)

UsesToasted leaves as tea

CautionBerries are toxic; despite the name, the leaf tea does not make you sick.

🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.

Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.