Ilex opaca

Common Names

American Holly, Christmas Holly, White Holly, Holly, Winterberry

Summary

Ilex opaca, commonly called American holly, is an evergreen tree native to the eastern and central United States that typically reaches 40–50 feet tall with a 15–25 foot spread, developing a dense pyramidal crown in youth that becomes more open with age, leaves are alternate, simple, and evergreen with spiny margins, dark green and glossy on top, and bright red berries persist through fall and winter, the plant is dioecious with separate male and female plants so fruit production requires nearby male trees for pollination of female trees, in cultivation it prefers moist, acidic, well drained soils and grows best in full sun to partial shade with berry production strongest in full sun, it tolerates urban conditions and salt spray and can be used as a specimen, hedge, or screen, contributing winter color and wildlife value as birds feed on berries, propagation is by cuttings for cultivars, while seeds have deep dormancy, and a typical setup for fruiting includes one male for every three females, numerous cultivars exist offering varied forms and fruit colors making it versatile for landscape use

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

180-600 inches

Spread

10-20 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, acidic soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

3.5-6.5

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Dark green on the upper surface and lighter green below.

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Grafting

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators