American Holly, White Holly, Prickly Holly, Evergreen Holly, Christmas Holly, Yule Holly
Beautifully shaped, Ilex opaca (American Holly) is an upright, evergreen tree of symmetrical, dense, pyramidal habit with stout, stiff branches bearing leathery, dark green leaves, 2-4 in. long (5-10 cm), adorned with spine-tipped teeth. Ilex opaca is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. It produces abundant small greenish-white flowers in spring that are followed by a profusion of attractive bright red berries on pollinated female trees. Extremely showy, they ripen in fall, persist into winter and enliven the winter landscape unless they are devoured by birds.
American Holly is a favorite among birds, drawing in species like the American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal, and numerous others. Its vibrant berries and dense foliage offer valuable food and shelter, making it a cherished asset for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
Providing excellent year-round interest, American Holly is a popular landscape plant that can be used as a specimen, in groupings or as an evergreen hedge. The fruiting branches are popular Christmas decorations. Both a male and female plant are needed to produce the attractive red berries.
| Hardiness |
5 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
5 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Trees |
| Plant Family | Aquifoliaceae |
| Genus | Ilex |
| Common names | American Holly, Holly, Christmas Holly |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height |
15' - 30' (4.6m - 9.1m) |
| Spread |
10' - 20' (3m - 6.1m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Midwest, Missouri, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Deer, Clay Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
| Hardiness |
5 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
5 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Trees |
| Plant Family | Aquifoliaceae |
| Genus | Ilex |
| Common names | American Holly, Holly, Christmas Holly |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height |
15' - 30' (4.6m - 9.1m) |
| Spread |
10' - 20' (3m - 6.1m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Midwest, Missouri, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Deer, Clay Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
How many Ilex opaca (American Holly) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Ilex opaca (American Holly) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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