Ilex cassine

Common Names

Dahoon Holly, Dahoon, Cassine, Cassine Holly, Cassena

Summary

Dahoon holly is an evergreen tree native to the southeastern United States, typically growing 20 to 30 feet tall with an 8 to 12 foot spread and an open, pyramidal to oval crown. It has glossy dark green leaves 2 to 4 inches long with few serrations near the tip and white flowers in spring, followed by red drupes that mature in fall and persist into winter, providing food for wildlife; the plant is dioecious, requiring separate male and female plants for fruit production. In cultivation it prefers full sun to partial shade and moist soils, tolerating a range of soils from clay to sand and moderate drought with some salt spray tolerance for urban landscapes. It is used as a hedge, screen, specimen, tree lawn, or street tree, with little pruning required once established. Propagation is by seeds or cuttings, with cuttings often preferred to ensure known sex for fruit production, and the plant attracts bees and various wildlife.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

20-30 feet

Spread

8-12 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun; tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist soil that is not waterlogged; tolerates sandy, loamy, and clay soils.

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

6.1-7.8, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, tolerates acidic to mildly alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Greenish white, White

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Dark green, with a paler underside

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, Attracts birds