Images of the American Holly (Ilex opaca)

American Holly

Ilex opaca

Native to the eastern United States, this species grows between 10 and 20 m tall. The evergreen, stiff, alternately arranged leaves are dark green above, pale yellow below, and have characteristic spiky edges. This holly is popularly used in ornamental plantings and for Christmas decorations.

Habitat:Mixed upland and bottomland forests and swamp borders.

Growth Habit:Evergreen tree, growing up to 10 m tall, branches at right angles.

Bloom Time:Late spring.

Longevity:Moderate.

Presence in US:AL AR CT DC DE FL GA IL IN KY LA MA MD ME MO MS NC NJ NY OH OK PA RI SC TN TX VA WV

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This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).