Ilex vomitoria 'Schillings' (Dwarf Yaupon Holly)

Ilex vomitoria 'Schillings,' commonly known as dwarf yaupon holly, is a cultivar of 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 its dwarf cultivar, 'Schillings' makes it accessible to smaller garden spaces as well. 

Flowering from April to May, yaupon holly produces inconspicuous white flowers, which are attractive to a number of pollinators; 'Schillings' is an all-male cultivar, so it will not produce the attractive red berries that the species is also known for, but it will act as a pollinator for other Ilex vomitoria cultivars. The 'Schillings' dwarf cultivar grows to only about three to four feet tall and wide and has attractive, glossy gray-green leaves, 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 'Schillings' performs best in full to part sun, medium-wet soils, and tolerates deer, drought, over-watering, and has good cold-hardiness.