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American Holly

Ilex opaca

Other common name(s):

White Holly, Prickly Holly, Evergreen Holly, Christmas Holly, Yule Holly

Family:

Aquifoliaceae (Holly Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

15
to
25
ft.

Spread

15
to
20
ft.

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Acid, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Green

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Berry, Forage, Pollen, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Bees

Maintenance

Very slow growing tree. Both sexes are needed to produce berries. Naturally branches to the ground; can prune lower branches. Propagation: Seed, Semi-hardwood cuttings.

Comments

Blooms March-June. Pyramidal shape in full sun, up to 60′ in part shade. Thick, leathery, deep green leaves (2-4″ long) have spiny teeth on leaf edges. Male and female greenish-white flowers on separate trees. Bright red fruits in fall on females, persist through winter. Birds love the fruit. Larval host: Henry’s Elfin butterfly.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 292. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=IL.OP. 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Ilex+opaca&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 6) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=1565&locationType=County&mapType=Normal., 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=27982#null

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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