Schilling Holly

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The Only Shrub Native to North America that Contains Caffeine

The Schilling Holly plant, also known as the Dwarf Yaupon Holly Shrub, is a favorite among gardeners. Ilex Schilling is used as a small hedge, border plant, or foundation plant due to the dense rounded form it maintains. It gives off the impression of being professionally shaped without any formal cutting.

The Ilex Schilling plant produces medium sized, dark green leaves with a small oval shape that has a reddish cast when plants are young. The branches are coated with silvery, gray bark. The Dwarf Yaupon is not a deciduous holly bush and the evergreen leaves will stay on the plant throughout the year.

Does the Dwarf Yaupon Holly Have Berries?

Small white flowers appear in spring on both female and male Schillings hollies, but are somewhat inconspicuous. After the flowers bloom, bright red berries appear on only female plants. Birds and other wildlife love the berries in early winter through spring!

Salt tolerant and drought tolerant once established, the Schilling often forms into a thick, low-maintenance, and uniformly green groundcover. Perfect for any seaside planting or mass planting

Fun fact: the Yaupon Holly shrub is native to southeastern North America and can be found growing wild in Florida and neighboring states! The green foliage is traditionally used by Native Americans as a drinkable tea that contains more caffeine than coffee. The Schillings holly’s botanical name is Ilex vomitoria because if drank in too large of a quantity it can induce vomiting.

HOW TO PLANT SCHILLING HOLLY PLANTS

Grow this evergreen holly shrub across the United States in USDA growing zones 6-9.

Planting Schillings holly is easy. Dig a hole the size of the container and place the holly ilex into it at ground level. Backfill with native soil or amended soil used for holly plants. The best time of year to plant Ilex vomitoria schillings dwarf is in early spring or early fall so it has the whole growing season to establish.

How Big Does A Dwarf Yaupon Holly Get?

The Schilling Dwarf Holly shrub can grow 4 to 7 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide, making it perfect for formal hedges because of the height and spread.  Pruning holly is easy and should be done to keep the holly size maintained to the desired shape.

How To Trim Dwarf Yaupon Holly

Dwarf Yaupon hollies should be pruned to remove any rotting, broken, or decayed branches to ensure its long term health. Start to prune your Schilling Holly shrub by locating the dead branches on the plant and cutting them away. Remove the entire decayed bit, even if it means that you need to cut most of a branch away.

While it’s important to prune your hollies to keep them healthy, you can also trim them to shape your shrubs to your liking. You can even prune this green bush into a small yaupon holly tree if desired!

How Fast Does Dwarf Yaupon Holly Grow?

The dwarf yaupon holly growth rate is moderate to fast! The fast growth rate can grow so fast in full sun that it may require infrequent pruning lightly to keep desired shape. Unpruned plants can grow to 7-10 feet tall and potentially wider as the plant spreads to the planting location.

Will Dwarf Yaupon Holly Grow In Shade?

In most cases, planting a holly in full shade is not recommended. The Schilling Holly species prefers full sun to partial shade. In light shade, the plant may produce no berries but will keep a small growing nature. Dwarf Yaupon bushes grow to the location they are planted in. 

Ilex Schilling Holly Plant Care

This evergreen shrub isn’t picky about soil type and will thrive in both dry or wet soil conditions, or sandy soils equally well. However, the Dwarf Yaupon holly bush performs best in slightly acidic soil that is moist but well drained soil. Perform a soil pH test if needed.

Holly plant care includes the application of a slow release fertilizer at the top of the root ball every year to help with growth. Mulch heavily in spring or fall with organic matter, compost, or other materials to help retain moisture.

Perfect Plants sends the Schilling plant directly to your home and will ensure it arrives in good shape from our shipping process. Check out the reviews.

Shop the native Dwarf Yaupon Holly for sale at Perfect Plants.

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