Yaupon Holly

Q. I know a small tree called youpon, yupon, or maybe yaupon. I do hope you will be able to look it up; it's quite attractive, and very hardy here in these parts [Houston, TX]

A. I found no listings for the first two names, but here is the third:

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria `Nana')

Foliage: Evergreen broadleaf
Height: 3 to 15 feet
Spread: 3 to 10 feet
Shape: Spreading
New growth has a purplish tinge which turns glossy, dark green. Large clusters of red berries form on female plants.
Zone: 7 to 10
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Moisture: Wet, moist, or dry
Soil Type: Sandy, loam, or clay
pH Range: 3.7 to 6.0
Suggested uses for this plant include hedge, barrier, massing, and specimen plant.
Transplants readily.
Adapts to wide range of soil moisture conditions.
Tolerant of salt spray.
Plant one male plant near each six to eight female plants to ensure heavy fruiting. Withstands pruning well.
Prune regularly if using as a hedge, or when fullness of plant is desired.

Problems: No serious insect or disease problems.

Consult local sources, including historic or public gardens and arboreta, regarding cultivars and related species that grow well in your area.

Cultivars:

`Nana' or Dwarf Yaupon Holly (shown), is a small, moundlike shrub, 3 to 5 feet high and very broad.

`Pendula' is a weeping type reaching 15 to 20 feet with beautiful fruit. An extremely versatile plant, hardy in the Tidewater area and into central Virginia. The purplish tinge to new leaves and white-to-gray bark distinguish the Yaupon Holly. Yaupon Holly tolerates wind and hot climates better than most evergreen hollies.

This material was developed by Carol Ness as part of the Interactive Design and Development Project funded by the Kellogg Foundation. Mary Miller, Project Director. Diane Relf, Content Specialist, Horticulture. Copyright 1989 Virginia Cooperative Extension Diane Relf, Extension Specialist, Environmental Horticulture August 1996
www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/factsheets/shrubs/ yaphlly.html

YAUPON HOLLY

Species: Ilex vomitoria
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Longevity: Perennial
Season: Cool
Origin: Native
Height: 15 ft.
Fruits: Fall

An evergreen shrub rare on moist soil in its native state. Widely abundant as an ornamental shrub due to its broad evergreen leaves and shiny red fruit remaining attached into winter. This combination makes it a handsome shrub in the winter, often used as a Christmas decoration.

Check out pix here to see if this is it:

http://www.noble.org/imagegallery/woodhtml/YauponHolly.html