Overview
Yaupon holly is a Florida native evergreen shrub or small tree with fine-textured foliage, pale bark, and bright red berries on female plants. It tolerates heat, drought, wind, salt, and varied soil conditions, making it one of the most adaptable native woody plants for Tampa landscapes.
Mature Size and Habit
Unpruned plants commonly grow 15 to 25 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide. The natural form is dense and multi-stemmed, though selective pruning develops an attractive small tree. Compact and weeping cultivars have different sizes, so confirm the selection before placement.
Best Landscape Uses
Use yaupon holly as a small ornamental tree, informal screen, clipped hedge, courtyard accent, coastal planting, or wildlife buffer. Its smaller leaves accept pruning better than large-leaved hollies. Female plants need a compatible male plant nearby for reliable berry production.
Sunlight, Soil, Drainage, and Irrigation
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Fruiting is strongest in brighter locations. Yaupon accepts sand, loam, and clay and handles both dry periods and brief wetness after establishment. Water deeply during the first growing season, then reduce irrigation as the root system expands. Avoid permanently saturated sites.
Best Planting Season for Tampa
Fall through early spring is ideal because cooler weather reduces water stress while roots develop. Warm-season planting also works with close irrigation management. Set the root flare above grade in poorly drained soil and maintain a broad mulch ring.
Pruning and Maintenance
Train young specimens by selecting strong trunks and removing crowded stems gradually. Prune hedges after growth flushes. Avoid stripping all interior foliage or shearing the outer surface so tightly that the center becomes bare. Yaupon generally has few serious pest problems.
Wildlife Value
Female berries feed songbirds and other wildlife during fall and winter. Dense evergreen branches provide cover and nesting sites, while flowers support small pollinating insects.
Toxicity, Thorns, Roots, and Invasive Concerns
The plant has no thorns. Holly berries are not food for people or pets and can cause illness if eaten in quantity. The root system is fibrous and usually manageable, though suckers can create a wider colony if left unpruned. This Florida native is not invasive. See the species profile from the Florida Native Plant Society.
Local Delivery
Local delivery only in approved South Tampa ZIP codes. $600.00 minimum plant order. $100.00 flat delivery fee. Ecoscape will contact you to schedule delivery.