Does Yaupon Have Aggressive Roots?

Description

• Yaupon is a fast-grower, meaning it grows up to 24 inches a year. Left unpruned, yaupon grows from 10 to 20 feet tall, spreading up to 10 feet wide. Under good growing conditions, it can get even taller. Yaupon has leathery dark green leaves. It is dioecious, meaning that it bears male and female flowers on separate plants; the female flowers yield bright red berries that last through fall and winter.

Soil and Sun

• Yaupon’s roots enable it to tolerate a wide variety of soils, both wet and dry; it will tolerate drought and grow in salty coastal location. Yaupon will have denser foliage and are more compact if you grow them in the sun.

Root Suckers

• Yaupon’s surface roots are typically not a problem, but the suckers are. They grow from the underground roots at the base of the tree, requiring pruning two to three times a year to keep a neat appearance and prevent the plant from spreading.

Use

• If you manage its root suckers, you can grow yaupon as a screen, windbreak or hedge. If you grow it as one of these barrier types, space the plants about 5 feet apart and allow the suckers to close the distance between plants. Prune the suckers that don’t fill in your barrier. Dwarf varieties are good for planting along the foundation of buildings. Yaupon is ideal for trimming as topiary or fanciful shapes.