General Information:

This small tree can grow up to 45 feet high and can be found in southern Virginia, Florida, southeast Oklahoma, and central Texas. Female plants produce bright red berries. It is often grown in ornamental landscapes and trimmed into decorative hedges.

Medicinal Uses:

It can be used to cause vomiting, and tea can be made and used as a ‘ceremonial cleanser’ in South America. Preparations recently have been used for coughs, digestive disorders, water retention, and jaundice or yellowed skin.

Did You Know:

The leaves and twigs of yaupon contain caffeine and were made into tea, which was consumed in large quantities and then thrown back up. This led to the name ‘vomitoria’.