Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) observed in James Island County Park, Charleston, SC, US
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Native Plants
Yaupon Holly is the only caffeine-containing plant native to North America, and spotting it thriving in a local park means you could be walking past a wild tea plant with a rich Indigenous history every time you visit.
Someone spotted and photographed a Yaupon Holly shrub at James Island County Park in Charleston, South Carolina, and the sighting was confirmed as accurate by the iNaturalist community. Yaupon Holly is a native evergreen shrub that produces small red berries and glossy leaves — and those leaves can actually be brewed into a caffeinated tea. It's been used for thousands of years by Indigenous peoples in the Southeast, and it grows wild in parks and coastal forests across the region.
Key Findings
Research-grade iNaturalist observation confirmed Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) present at James Island County Park, Charleston, SC
Observation located in coastal South Carolina, within the native range of this caffeine-producing shrub
Community verification elevated the sighting to research-grade status, meaning multiple identifiers agreed on the species
chevron_right Technical Summary
A research-grade observation of Yaupon Holly was recorded at James Island County Park in Charleston, SC, confirming the native shrub's presence in a public green space along the South Carolina coast.
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of Yaupon Holly in James Island County Park, Charleston, SC, 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...