Dwarf Yaupon Holly vs Boxwood: What Are The Differences?

Dwarf yaupon holly and boxwood are both evergreen shrubs and trees. Boxwood, in particular, is one of the oldest known garden plants, dating back to 4,000BC. These two stunning specimens are incredibly popular worldwide due to their ornamental uses and low-maintenance growth style. However, they look quite similar at first glance, although it’s easy to understand that this isn’t true when we explore them further. Therefore, we’ll explain everything you need to know about dwarf yaupon holly vs. boxwood so that you can choose the perfect plant for your garden!

Comparing Boxwood vs. Dwarf Yaupon Holly

	Boxwood	Dwarf Yaupon Holly
Classification	Buxus	lIex vomitoria “Nana”
Origin	Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas	Southeastern North America
Size	6.5 – 39 feet	Height – 4 feet Width – 5 feet
Leaves	0.5 – 1.5 inches	0.3 – 1 inch
Flowers	Yellowish-green	White
Fruit	Brown	Red
Growth Rate	Less than 12 inches per year	3 – 5 inches per year
Cold Tolerance	Typically zones 5 to 9	Zones 7 to 10

The 5 Key Differences Between Dwarf Yaupon Holly and Boxwood

The main differences between dwarf yaupon holly and boxwood are their size, the color of their flowers and berries, and the size of their leaves. Boxwood is typically larger than dwarf yaupon holly and has bigger leaves. Other differences include where they come from and how fast they grow.

Dwarf Yaupon Holly vs. Boxwood: Classification

The first difference between dwarf yaupon holly and boxwood is how they are classified. Yaupon holly is the species Ilex vomitoria, a member of the Aquifoliaceae family. This is known as the holly family and contains approximately 560 different species. The dwarf yaupon holly is the “Nana” variety of the species.

Boxwood is not a single species but is typically any species in the Buxus genus, comprised of approximately 70 species. However, including these species and the different cultivars, there are approximately 150 different varieties. Buxus is a member of the Buxaceae family group, also known as the box family. The box family has a wide distribution and is found in most suitable habitats across the entire world.

Dwarf Yaupon Holly vs. Boxwood: Size

japanese holly vs boxwood — Boxwood is not a single species but is typically any species in the *Buxus* genus, which is comprised of approximately 70 species.
©Antoniya Kadiyska/Shutterstock.com

The biggest difference between these two plants is their size. Although boxwood can be grown as shrubs, their natural size generally ranges between 6.5 and 39 feet high. However, in comparison, the dwarf yaupon holly is significantly smaller and only reaches 4 feet high with a spread of 5 feet. This makes them perfect for gardens as they are just the right size to be kept as small trees and ornamental shrubs.

Dwarf Yaupon Holly vs. Boxwood: Leaves

Another difference between these two plants is their leaves’ size and appearance, despite them being evergreen. Boxwood typically has larger leaves than dwarf yaupon holly, and its leaves are oval-shaped and 0.5 to 1.5 inches long. Boxwood has dense foliage, and its leaves are a medium green color but can turn a little yellowish during the fall and winter months.

In comparison, dwarf yaupon holly leaves are oval-shaped, 0.3 to 1 inch long, and are a glossy green color. It, too, has dense foliage, but its leaves grow on particularly brittle branches. Unlike most holly bushes, dwarf yaupon holly does not have prickly leaves; instead, they have a leathery texture.

Dwarf Yaupon Holly vs. Boxwood: Flowers

One of the easiest ways to distinguish between dwarf yaupon holly and boxwood is to look at their flowers when they bloom in the spring. Boxwood produces male and female flowers on the same plant – known as monoecious. These generally appear as a single female flower surrounded by up to six male flowers. Boxwood flowers are a yellowish-green color but are small and insignificant looking. They lack petals and can often appear to blend in with the plant’s color.

Dwarf yaupon holly also produces tiny flowers, but these are white in color. However, dwarf yaupon holly produces male and female flowers on separate plants rather than the same one. This means that the plant can be either male or female – which is known as being “dioecious.” Incredibly, the male flowers provide the pollen while the female plants eventually produce the berries (more on that next).

Dwarf Yaupon Holly vs. Boxwood: Fruit

As we’ve just mentioned, only female dwarf yaupon hollies produce berries, but this goes even further as they only produce them if there is a male plant nearby. This is because the male dwarf yaupon produces the pollen, which is needed to fertilize the female flowers to create the berries! When the berries do appear, they are small and pea-sized (around 1/4″) and have a brilliant red color. These berries are an important food source for many small birds as they usually remain well into the winter. However, although they look attractive, they are actually incredibly toxic to humans and pets. They contain the toxin ilicin, and even consuming only a few berries can cause serious vomiting.

For as bright as the berries are on dwarf yaupon holly when it comes to boxwoods, they can only be described as inconspicuous – just like their flowers. This is because they tend to be a dull brown and so small that they are barely noticeable. As boxwoods produce both male and female flowers on the same plant, virtually all boxwoods produce fruit. Upon fertilization, the boxwood produces small three-chambered capsules (approx 1/3″ diameter) which are green to begin with but turn brown when they mature. Once they are mature, they split open to discharge tiny, shiny black seeds. These seeds are popular with birds but can be toxic to humans.