Ilex vomitoria 'Hightower' (Yaupon Holly)

Ilex vomitoria 'Hightower' is an upright variety yaupon holly, a woody, perennial broadleaf evergreen shrub to small tree that is native the southeastern US and Mexico. Although its species name, vomitoria, may raise some eyebrows, this notation is drawn from the plant's traditional use, potentially as a ritual emetic in pre-Colonial rituals. Related to other holly plants as well as the yerba mate tea plant, yaupon holly tissues contain fairly high amounts of caffeine and themobromine, which can result in the aforementioned emetic effects if ingested in high quantities. Beyond its slightly off-putting name, yaupon holly is an excellent addition to the landscape with a lot of ecological appeal, and while its dwarf cultivars may be more common in the nursery trade, upright varieties like 'Hightower' are an excellent way to add a unique, evergreen specimen tree to the landscape for ornamental and pollinator value. 

Flowering in the mid spring, 'Hightower' produces small, inconspicuous, lightly fragrant flowers that all sorts of pollinators go nuts for. As an upright variety, 'Hightower' can be pruned into a tree-like habit, but can also be maintained as a medium to large hedge or privacy screening plant that grows to 10-20' tall and 6-12' wide. Like other holly plants, yaupon holly has separate male and female specimens, and will only produce the attractive red berries that the species is also known for in the presence of an appropriate pollinator; there isn't much information out there about the 'Hightower' variety just yet, so time will tell if these are a fruiting or a pollinating variety. Like the more common dwarf varieties, 'Hightower' yaupon holly produces glossy gray-green leaves and responds well to pruning, making it an excellent choice for low hedges, where it is easy to maintain, or coastal areas, where it shows of its high salt tolerance. Ilex vomitoria 'Hightower' performs best in full to partial sun with medium-wet soils, and tolerates deer, drought, over-watering.