Possumhaw
Ilex decidua
Possumhaw is a deciduous holly grown for its spectacular winter display of scarlet berries clustered along bare gray branches, stripped slowly by birds. Adaptable to wet or dry soils in sun.
- Family
- Aquifoliaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 7–15 ft
- Spacing
- 5–12 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade
- Soil moisture
- moist, dry, wet
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral
- Bloom
- March, April, May
- Bloom colors
- white
- Wildlife value
- songbirds
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~39 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- rain garden
- Native states
- AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
Related native plants
More Ilex species
- American Holly (Ilex opaca)
- Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)
- Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)
- Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
- Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine)
- Large Gallberry (Ilex coriacea)