Dwarf yaupon hedge (Ilex vomitoria): spacing and varieties

Updated on 20 September 2026Published on 28 February 2019

Dark, close-set leaves against pale bark, crisp red berries and a naturally round, mounding habit: dwarf yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) is an evergreen shrub at home in low hedges, containers and even bonsai pots. Give it the regular pruning it asks for and it will stay small and cute for decades.

Dwarf yaupon at a glance
Name	Ilex vomitoria sp.
Family	Ilex (holly)
Type	evergreen
Exposure	part to full sun
Soil	not important
Height	up to four feet (1+ meter)

Read our tips on how to plant and care for it both in an open garden and in garden boxes.

Planting dwarf yaupon

How to plant dwarf yaupon in the ground

There’s no need to prepare the soil because dwarf yaupon isn’t a very demanding shrub. It grows slowly and is able to pull nutrients out even from poor soil.

Follow our tips on how to plant shrubs and your dwarf yaupon will settle in in no time.

Planting dwarf yaupon in a pot or container

Growing dwarf yaupon in a container is very easy.

Ensure basic drainage with expanded clay pebbles or gravel at the bottom of the pot
Check that there’s a drainage hole at the bottom for excess water to drain out
Use either simple garden soil or garden soil mixed in with all-purpose soil mix

How to care for dwarf yaupon

For dwarf yaupon, only the most basic care is required:

Water newly planted dwarf yaupon during the first year.
In case of severe drought, provide water at spaced intervals (weekly instead of daily).
Use mulch if your area is prone to drought so you don’t need to worry.

No need to fertilize your dwarf yaupon shrub unless it’s in a pot.

Regular shrub plant fertilizer will do for dwarf yaupon in containers.
No need to fertilize over the first year after repotting.
Water more frequently since plants grown in pots need more water.

Repot dwarf yaupon grown in containers every 2 to 3 years.

Dwarf yaupon pruning and trimming

If your dwarf yaupon is in a garden box or planter, prune yearly to retain its small, tight shape.

the best season to prune is spring
trim again lightly at the beginning of fall to give the dwarf yaupon a sharp shape for the winter.

Dwarf yaupon is perfect for low-lying hedges.

Planting and pruning a low dwarf yaupon hedge

In Europe, boxwood is often used for low-lying hedges, but dwarf yaupon does a great job at it, too!

Select dwarf varieties. This ensures slow growth.
Space plants rather tightly, as per the table below:

Desired hedge height	Spacing
1 foot (30 cm)	8 inches (20 cm)
2 feet (60 cm)	1 ½ feet (45 cm)
3 feet (90 cm)	2 feet (60 cm)

In short, space your dwarf yaupon plants about 2/3ds of how tall you want your hedge to be.

If you want to have your hedge trimmed and shaped into rectangular shapes, you’ll have to prune twice a year at least. Indeed, dwarf yaupon naturally grows into round, mounding shapes.

Best is to consider letting it grow naturally. It will create a long, low hedge shaped in a half-circle, much like the long lines in a lavender field. In this case, you’ll only need to prune once a year to keep it from growing too large.

Dwarf yaupon bonsai

Slow growth and evergreen leaves suit bonsai shaping

Dwarf yaupon is a shrubby tree that is very well suited to being grown as a bonsai.

Slow-growing and evergreen, it can be shaped into many elegant shapes like cloud pruning and more.

Dark dwarf yaupon leaves mark a beautiful contrast to the light-colored bark. Bonsai creations may try to highlight this.

Pests and diseases that impact dwarf yaupon

No known dwarf yaupon pests or diseases. This is a very resistant tree!

When grown in pots or planters, however, it will be vulnerable to drying out and to excessive cold (colder than 5°F or -15°C).

Find your favorite dwarf yaupon shrub

‘Nana’ Dwarf yaupon – one of the most common, beautiful round mounding habit, crisp red berries. Deer only go for the berries, no damage to the plant.
‘Shillings’ Dwarf yaupon (also called ‘Stokes Dwarf’) – male cultivar that won’t produce berries. Cushion form, wider than it is tall.
‘Condeaux’ Dwarf yaupon – often called “Bordeaux dwarf yaupon”. Male cultivar, so it will never bear fruit.

More information here on dwarf yaupon hollies, including how large they grow.

Only female dwarf yaupons bear berries, and they need a male plant nearby.
Cut out any vigorous upright shoot on a dwarf yaupon, whether it is a true reversion to the full-size species or simply rank growth, because it breaks the plant’s mounded outline.

Which dwarf yaupon cultivar to choose

The three cultivars described above differ mainly in whether they carry berries and in the shape they settle into. Use this table to match a plant to the effect you are after.

Which dwarf yaupon cultivar to choose
Cultivar	Berries	Habit	Good to know
‘Nana’	Crisp red berries	Round, mounding	One of the most common; deer take only the berries
‘Shillings’ (‘Stokes Dwarf’)	None – male cultivar	Cushion, wider than tall	Choose it where fallen berries are unwanted
‘Condeaux’	None – male cultivar	Dwarf, slow-growing	Often sold as “Bordeaux dwarf yaupon”

For a low hedge, stick to dwarf varieties whichever you pick, since that is what guarantees slow growth.

Learn more about Dwarf Yaupon

Dwarf yaupon is a desirable addition to any garden, big or small. Its wood is very hard, and mature twigs tend to break off easily. Don’t use potted dwarf yaupon for goal posts when playing with children!
Read more:

Smart tip about dwarf yaupon

Dwarf yaupon holds better to drought when the ground is covered with mulch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should dwarf yaupon be planted for a low hedge?

Space the plants at roughly two thirds of the height you want the finished hedge to reach. A one-foot (30 cm) hedge calls for 8 inches (20 cm) between plants, a two-foot (60 cm) hedge for 1½ feet (45 cm), and a three-foot (90 cm) hedge for 2 feet (60 cm). Tight spacing like this is what gives a dense, even line.

When should dwarf yaupon be pruned?

Spring is the best season to prune. Plants in garden boxes or planters should be pruned yearly to hold their small, tight shape, with a light trim again at the beginning of autumn for a crisp winter outline. If you want square, formal shapes you will need to prune at least twice a year, because dwarf yaupon naturally grows into round, mounding shapes.

Does dwarf yaupon need watering and feeding?

Water newly planted shrubs through their first year, and in severe drought water at spaced intervals — weekly rather than daily. There is no need to fertilise a dwarf yaupon in the ground; only container-grown plants need a regular shrub fertiliser, and not during the first year after repotting. Pots also dry out faster, so water them more often.

Is dwarf yaupon prone to pests, diseases or frost damage?

There are no known pests or diseases for dwarf yaupon, which makes it a very resistant tree. The one weak point is container growing: in pots or planters it becomes vulnerable to drying out and to excessive cold, below 5°F (-15°C). Mulch helps it hold out against drought where the ground can be covered.

Image credits (edits Gaspard Lorthiois):
CC BY 2.0: ilouque
CC BY-SA 2.0: Ryan Somma

Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.

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