Yaupon, often called Yaupon Holly, is a picturesque, upright, single- or multi-trunked shrub or small tree, growing 12 to 45 feet high. Female plants produce large amounts of bright red, persistent berries. The leaves of the Yaupon are dark green and small, usually less than 1.5 inches long. The pale gray bark is marked with white patches.

The Yaupon Holly is often grown in residential landscapes and trimmed into hedges. Its ornamental twigs with their shiny evergreen leaves and numerous red berries are often used as holiday decorations and make cheerful accents in the winter landscape. The leaves and twigs contain caffeine and were used by indigenous people to prepare a tea.