In a normal year, I would point out that summer is on the wane, and fall will soon pay us a visit. In 2020, the changing seasons matter very little, except that fall is a time of making sure that all is ready for the coming winter. In the garden, it is the time to clean up and dispose of dead or dying plants. It also is the best time to plant perennials, shrubs, and trees that will remain dormant in the soil until spring.

I have been researching small- to medium-sized evergreen shrubs for a special planting project. The shrub I select must meet several criteria: it must require minimal care and maintenance; grow well in nutritionally poor soil; and thrive in the face of inattention.

Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), a broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree, is native to coastal areas of the southeastern United States. Yaupon holly grows in full sun to part shade. It prefers sandy, well-drained soil with a pH of 3.7-6.8, but will tolerate a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions, including heat, wind, drought, salt spray, and periods of extreme wetness.

Yaupon holly’s glossy, dark green leaves are about one inch long and elliptical with smooth to finely serrated margins. Small, inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers that attract pollinators bloom in spring on both male and female plants. Yaupon holly is dioecious, so a male shrub of the same species must be planted near every six to eight female yaupons for the females to produce the shiny, red or yellow drupes.

The yaupon holly species grows to a height of 20 feet, but smaller, more compact cultivars are available, including ‘Nana’/‘Compacta’, which grows to about 5 feet, and ‘Schilling’s Dwarf’/‘Stokes Dwarf’, which is a smaller, mounded cultivar. ‘Taylor’s Rudolph’ is a 3 to 4 foot high female variety that requires a male of the same species to set fruit.
Although yaupon holly is resistant to most diseases and insects, it is susceptible to scale insects and sooty mold. Yaupon holly can be grown as an accent or foundation plant or in a hedge.

Native Americans brewed yaupon holly leaves into a strong emetic to purge themselves in preparation for rituals.
Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Publications “Yaupon Holly Cultivars” and “Evergreen Hollies” provide basic information on yaupon holly. North Carolina Extension Plant Toolbox entry “Ilex vomitoria ‘Taylor’s Rudolph’” offers information on this attractive cultivar.

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a native of the Black Sea region of southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. It is a different plant from the North American cherry laurel (P. caroliniana). P. laurocerasus species is a broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree that is rarely sold in North America. It can reach a height of 50 feet.

A popular cultivar in the United States is ‘Otto Luyken,’ which grows to 3 to 4 feet in height with a spread of 8 feet. A more compact selection of ‘Otto Luyken’ is ‘Chestnut Hill,’ which grows to a height of 4 feet with a similar spread and is perfect for a small space.

Cherry laurel requires full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained, organically rich soil with a pH of 3.7-7.3. The oblong, glossy, dark green leaves can reach 6 inches in length. Tiny, fragrant, creamy white flowers bloom in April and May. Inconspicuous black drupes appear in midsummer. The fruit flesh, seeds, and leaves contain hydrogen cyanide and should not be eaten. The drupes are toxic to humans, although birds consume them.

Cherry laurel is a slow grower that requires minimal maintenance and can tolerate heavy pruning. Cherry laurel is more disease and insect resistant than other Prunus species, although root rot can occur if it is planted in a wet spot. It is reported to be deer and salt spray resistant.

You can find information on cherry laurel in VCE Publication 2901-1038 “Cherrylaurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’)” and Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder entry “Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken.’”