Yaupon Holly
Nana
Evergreen · Foliage · No berries · Zones 7-11
Yaupon Holly
Pride of Houston
Upright yaupon with translucent red berries; drought-tough.
An evergreen member of the yaupon holly group, Pride of Houston earns its place through bright red berries and a tough, long-lived constitution. Below is a full profile of Pride of Houston — its characteristics, how to grow it, whether it needs a pollinator for berries, and answers to the questions gardeners ask most.
About Pride of Houston
Grouped among the yaupon holly, Pride of Houston shows the hallmarks of the class — small, smooth, spineless leaves of fine texture. Ilex vomitoria is a resilient Southern native whose small leaves and translucent red berries suit everything from clipped columns to naturalized screens.
Pride of Houston is evergreen and hardy across USDA zones 7-11, so it suits a wide range of gardens with the right acidic, well-drained soil and seasonal care.
Characteristics and form
Pride of Houston makes an adaptable evergreen shrub or small tree, from dwarf mounds to narrow columns, typically around 12-20 ft tall and 4 to 12 feet wide by form. Its foliage is small, smooth, spineless leaves of fine texture. Knowing a holly's mature size and habit is the key to placing it well: give Pride of Houston room to reach its full spread without crowding, which also keeps air moving through the plant and disease at bay.
Berries and pollination
Pride of Houston is a female holly, so it carries the red berries — but only when a compatible male holly flowers within about fifty feet. Bees move the pollen; without a male in range, a female holly still flowers but sets little or no fruit.
Remember: holly is dioecious — male and female flowers grow on separate plants, and only pollinated females bear fruit. See our full guide to holly berries and pollination for how to guarantee a berry crop.
How to grow Pride of Houston
Plant Pride of Houston where it will get full sun to part shade in acidic, moist, well-drained soil. Full sun gives the densest growth and the heaviest berry set. Set the plant at the depth it grew in the pot, water it deeply while it establishes, and mulch the root zone to hold moisture and keep the soil cool and acidic.
- Light: Full sun to part shade; full sun gives the densest growth and the most berries.
- Soil: Acidic, moist, and well-drained, ideally pH 5.0–6.5. Improve heavy or alkaline ground with organic matter and keep it mulched.
- Water: Deep, regular watering while establishing; steady summer moisture helps hold the berry crop.
- Feeding: An acid-forming holly fertilizer in early spring keeps the foliage deep green.
- Pruning: Shape in late winter, before growth begins, to preserve the flowers that become berries.
Where to use Pride of Houston in the garden
Pride of Houston suits dwarf hedges and edging, topiary and columns, coastal and dry sites, and wildlife plantings. Use dwarf yaupons for low formal edging and the upright and weeping forms as living accents in tough, sunny spots.
Common problems and care
Yaupon is among the most durable hollies, tolerating heat, drought, salt, and poor soil once established in full sun to part shade. Watch for the usual holly troubles — leaf miner, scale, and spider mites, and root rot in soggy ground — and head them off with the right site, good drainage, and good air flow. Yellowing leaves usually signal alkaline soil or poor drainage rather than disease.
Pride of Houston — frequently asked questions
How big does Pride of Houston get?
Pride of Houston grows into an adaptable evergreen shrub or small tree, from dwarf mounds to narrow columns, typically reaching 12-20 ft tall and 4 to 12 feet wide by form. Its final size depends on your climate, the site, and how you prune it.
Does Pride of Houston have berries, and does it need a male holly?
Pride of Houston is female and bears red berries, but it needs a compatible male holly flowering within about fifty feet to pollinate it. One male can pollinate several nearby females.
Is Pride of Houston evergreen or deciduous?
Pride of Houston is evergreen, holding its small, smooth, spineless leaves of fine texture through the winter.
What hardiness zones does Pride of Houston grow in?
Pride of Houston is hardy in USDA zones 7-11. That range describes the winter cold it can survive; gardeners colder than zone 7 should give it a sheltered site or choose a hardier holly.
Is Pride of Houston easy to grow?
Yaupon is among the most durable hollies, tolerating heat, drought, salt, and poor soil once established in full sun to part shade. Give Pride of Houston an acidic, well-drained soil and the ordinary seasonal care any holly appreciates, and it is a straightforward, low-maintenance shrub.
When should I prune Pride of Houston?
Prune Pride of Houston in late winter, while it is dormant and before spring growth begins — that shapes the plant without removing the flower buds that become the next season's berries.