Ilex vomitoria Bordeaux® (Dwarf Yaupon Holly)

Ilex vomitoria Bordeaux® is an especially showy dwarf cultivar of yaupon holly, a woody, broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree that is native to the southeastern US and Mexico. Although its species name, vomitoria, may raise some eyebrows, this name is drawn from the plant's traditional use in pre-Colonial ritual teas, which contained a mix of herbs and were drunk in large quantities to induce vomiting. Today, Ilex vomitoria can still be found in some tea mixes, but is much more commonly planted for its wildlife and ecological value. Flowering in mid to late spring, yaupon holly produces inconspicuous white flowers, which are attractive to a number of pollinators; once pollinated by an appropriate pollinating partner, female flowers will produce small red berries. Due to mix-ups between different dwarf cultivars, it is possible to find Ilex vomitoria Bordeaux® as both male and female individuals, so it is important to keep this in mind as you look for accent plants.

Beyond its slightly off-putting name, Ilex vomitoria is an excellent addition to the landscape with a lot of ecological appeal, and this dwarf cultivar, Bordeaux®, makes the appealing aspects of yaupon holly accessible to smaller garden spaces as well. Bordeaux® grows with a mounding behavior to only about 2-3' tall and about 3-5' wide, with beautiful reddish hues to its new growth, making it an excellent and highly ornamental choice for low-maintenance hedges or coastal areas where it can show off its high salt tolerance. Ilex vomitoria Bordeaux® performs best in full sun to partial shade and in medium-wet soils, but this hardy shrub tolerates deer, drought, over-watering, and harsh winters. With pleasant spring flowers, consistent evergreen foliage, and appeal to insects, mammals, and a huge number of birds, Ilex vomitoria Bordeaux® is an excellent addition to the home landscape.