Ilex opaca
Object Details
- Description
- The American holly is easily identified by its spiky green leaves and bright red berries - the only native North American holly with these characteristics. Its deeply colored leaves and fruit have made it the choice for “decking the halls" for decades. American and European hollies look very similar, but the American variety has larger and brighter leaves.
- Hardiness
- -20 - 30 F
- Attracts
- Host for butterflies
- Bloom Time
- April to June
- Provenance
- Uncertain
- Range
- Central to E. US
- Habitat
- Rich bottom lands and swamps of coastal plain, 0-915 meters
- Topic
- Trees
- Living Collections
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
- On Display
- Smithsonian Castle
- Data Source
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Accession Number
- 2011-0382A
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Common Name
- American Holly
- White Holly
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Magnoliidae
- Superorder
- Asteranae
- Order
- Aquifoliales
- Family
- Aquifoliaceae
- Genus
- Ilex
- Species
- opaca
- Life Form
- Evergreen tree
- Average Height
- Cultivation: 15-30' Wild: 50'
- Bark Characteristics
- Smooth and gray
- Bloom Characteristics
- Greenish-white flowers grow in clusters of 3-12 on male plants, while female flowers grow in 1s, 2s, or 3s.
- Dioecious
- Yes.
- Foliage Characteristics
- Simple, alternate, dark green leaves with entire and spiny margins. Yellowish green underneath. 1.5-4" long. Leaves not as glossy as other hollies.
- Fruit Characteristics
- Round, red drupe. Drupe is occasionally orange or yellow. Mature from September to October. Can persist on plant until following spring. .25-.5" diameter.
- Structure
- Pyramidal
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2011-0382A
