Dwarf Yaupon Holly

About this plant

Perfect for a variety of landscape applications, Ilex vomitoria 'Nana' (Dwarf Yaupon Holly) is a dense, rounded evergreen shrub that brings fine-textured foliage to your garden year-round, making it an excellent choice for foundation plantings, borders, or low hedges. Its naturally neat and mounded habit requires minimal pruning to maintain its attractive form, making it a favorite for those seeking a tidy and polished landscape without constant upkeep. Though it produces small, inconspicuous white flowers in spring, the true appeal of this cultivar lies in its lush, dark green leaves that remain vibrant through all seasons. Highly adaptable and drought-tolerant once established, the Dwarf Yaupon Holly thrives in a range of conditions, offering a reliable solution for both formal and informal garden designs. Its compact size ensures it fits beautifully into smaller spaces, while its hardy nature makes it a steadfast addition to any larger landscape project.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Generally low-maintenance. Prune annually in late winter or early spring to maintain desired shape and size, though often little pruning is needed. Fertilize in spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer if desired.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.