Florida Plants of the Year

February 26 , 2005

Part III

5. Ilex vomitoria ‘Pendula’ - Weeping YauponHolly

The yaupon holly is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows 29-25 feet in height. It typically produces multiple stems to form dense shrubby clumps. The yaupon has simple, leathery, dark green leaves that are held alternately on the branches. Yaupon is dioecious which means that male and female flowers are born on separate plants. The tiny white flower appear in spring in great numbers and are borne in the leaf axils, close against the stem. Female flowers following by small bright red berries that persist on the trees through fall and winter. The bark is smooth and gray and is often mottled with yellow-green patches of lichen.

The yaupon is commonly grown as a trimmed hedge, screen or windbreak. When used as an enclosing barrier, it is planted approximately 5 feet apart and allowed to grow together. Use yaupon holly in natural plantings and when ever possible plant a few to provide food and shelter for birds and wildlife. Yaupon holly’s fast growth rate and small leaves make it a perfect choice for topiary.

The yaupon holly berries provide an important source of food for birds and other wildlife in late winter when there’s not a lot of other things to eat. They in turn, are kind enough to disperse the seed of this fine plant far and wide but especially under utility lines, fences and other roosting spots.

6 Duranta erects ’Gold Mound’ Golden Dewdrop

Golden dewdrop is a sprawling, sometimes vinelike tender evergreen shrub or small tree that can get up to 18 feet tall and just as wide. It usually forms a multi-stemmed clump with branches that droop and trail. Some bushes are quite spiny, and some have no spines at all. The showy flowers bloom almost all year long in terminal or lateral clusters up to 6 inches long. The individual flowers are tubular with five petals, light blue to violet or purple, and flare out at the mouth about 0.5 inches across. The fruit is a spherical yellow drupe about 0.5 inches in diameter borne in showy hanging bunches.

Golden dewdrop is easy to grow and requires little care. It tends to sprawl and will need regular thinning and pruning to keep it under control. Does best in full sun.
Golden dewdrop can be grown from seeds or started with cuttings from semi-hard wood in summer.

Warning, the attractive fruits are poisonous to humans. Do not use this shrub in children’s play areas.

Next week I will end this series with the last two plants for 2005.

Anna R. Coley, is a Master gardener affiliated with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.