American Holly is a slow-growing, medium sized, evergreen tree known and loved throughout the mid-atlantic, south-central and Gulf state lowlands (in NC, is reported in most counties throughout). An understory tree in our deciduous forests, it generally reaches 40 to 60 feet, with pyramidal form, occasionally much taller. In cultivation, however, it is generally shorter, in the range of 30 feet. Evergreen, with bright red berries, it is of course closely associated with winter holidays and are much used in decorations. American Holly is the only Ilex species in America with the spiny points on the leaves. The tree is slow growing, but long lived (~150 years). Like all Ilexes, flowering is dioecious, so a flowering male tree of the same species must be somewhere nearby for pollination to see heavy berry production on the female. The berries are consumed by a large number of songbirds, gamebirds and mammals, but the berries are bitter and eaten when other resources are depleted, so they are beautiful well into the winter season. There are over 1,000 cultivars of this species in the ornamental trade!!
NURSERY HOURS
Wednesday: 10-4, Thursday: 10-6, Friday – Saturday: 10-4, Sunday: 12-4
Ilex opaca
Key Info
Common Names: American Holly, Common Holly, Christmas Holly, White Holly, Prickly Holly, Evergreen Holly, Yule Holly
Family Names: Aquifoliaceae (Holly Family)
Plant Type: Tree / Shrub
Light Requirement: Full sun, Dappled sun, Full shade-bright, Winter sun, Partial/sunny, Partial/shady
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Bloom Times: May
Flower Color: White
Additional Info
Habit: Tree with a strong central leader and rounded, pyramidal form; gray, sometimes warty bark; stiff, crooked branches with wide branch angles, branches often reaching the ground; dense canopy; thick, fleshy roots.
Height: 15'-40'
Spread: 10'-25'
Soil Conditions: Moist well drained to dry; acidic soils; sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, thick, leathery, deep green, eliptical leaves 2-4 inches long x 2 inches wide with shallow lobes and spiney teeth along the margins. The undersides are usually lighter. Leaves persist several seasons until pushed out by new buds. Foliage can be less dense if grown in too much shade, and become chlorotic (yellow) if pH is too high.
Flowers (or reproductive structures: Like all hollies, American Holly is dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants). 1/4-inch flowers bloom in early summer, male flowers in axillary clusters of 3-12; on the female tree, flowers solitary or in 2s or 3s, immediately recognizable by the conspicuous green pistil.
Fruit: Bright red or orange-red berry-like fruit (drupes) 1/4- 1/2" diameter containing ribbed nutlets; appear late in the season on female trees; consumed by birds and other animals when oher resources are exhausted, the berries often last well into winter or early spring.
Natural Distribution: Moist, open woods, ravines, stream banks, well drained areas of moist, forest bottomlands
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
USDA Wetland Indicator Status in NC: FACU
Pollination: Flowers are pollinated by insects, including bees, butterflies, wasps, moths and even ants
Wildlife Connections: American Holly attracts large numbers of honey bees, native bees and other pollinators. The flowers provide nectar for adult butterflies and other insects. The berries, poisonous to people, are consumed by many birds including bluebirds, catbirds, mockingbirds and thrushes, as well as wild turkeys and quail; also deer, squirrels and other small mammals (raccoons, skunks, squirrels). The foliage serves as a larval host for Henry's Elfin butterfly. The dense canopy offers protection and nesting habitat to many birds. Although unpalatable, deer may browse the leaves if there is little else available.
Propagation: From cuttings or from seeds.