Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) observed in Danwood Dr, Austin, TX, US
iNaturalist: areejs
Urban Ecology
Yaupon Holly is a drought-tolerant, native alternative to imported teas and coffees that you could actually grow in your own backyard — and knowing where it's thriving helps gardeners and landscapers make smarter, more sustainable planting choices.
Someone in Austin, Texas spotted and photographed a Yaupon Holly bush, and the sighting was confirmed as research-grade by the iNaturalist community. Yaupon Holly is a native North American shrub whose leaves can be brewed into a caffeinated tea — it's the only plant native to the continent that naturally contains caffeine. Observations like this help scientists and gardeners understand where these plants are growing wild, which is useful for conservation and for people who want to grow native plants.
Key Findings
A research-grade observation of Yaupon Holly was recorded in Austin, TX, meeting iNaturalist's threshold for scientific reliability
The sighting is located in an urban residential area (Danwood Dr), indicating the species persists in developed landscapes
Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) is the only caffeine-containing plant native to North America, making each confirmed occurrence relevant to both ecology and the emerging native tea industry
chevron_right Technical Summary
A Yaupon Holly plant was spotted and confirmed in Austin, Texas, adding a verified data point to the native range of North America's only caffeinated plant. This research-grade observation contributes to citizen science records tracking where this resilient native shrub is thriving in urban environments.
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of Yaupon Holly in Danwood Dr, Austin, TX, US.
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Species Mentioned
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Ilex vomitoria, commonly known as yaupon or yaupon holly, is a species of holly that is native to southeastern North America. The word yaupon was derived from the Catawban yą́pą, from yą- tree + pą leaf. Another common name, cassina, was borrowed from Timucua. The Latin name was given by early Eu...