← Bedfellow

American Holly

Ilex opaca

The classic evergreen holly with spiny leaves and bright red winter berries on female trees. A staple of holiday greenery and a winter larder for songbirds.

Family

Aquifoliaceae

Type

tree

Lifespan

perennial

Height

15–30 ft

Spacing

10–20 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade, shade

Soil moisture

dry, wet

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

March, April, May, June

Bloom colors

white, green

Wildlife value

songbirds, butterflies, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~39 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

specimen, hedge or screen

Native states

AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV