American Holly - Ilex opaca

American Holly 6-10" (Ilex opaca) is an evergreen that has dark green leaves and red berries.

Plant Details - American Holly

Family: Aquifoliaceae

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Water Needs: Moist

Height: 15 – 30 ft.

Spread: 10 – 20 ft.

Growth Rate: Slow

Bloom Time: Spring

Flower Color: White

Wildlife Value: Attracts bees, birds

Landscape Uses and Maintenance - American Holly

The American Holly 6-10" is a beautiful and low maintenance evergreen with a pyramidal structure. It has spiky green leaves, small fragrant white flowers, and bold red berries. Its berries turn red in late fall and last through the winter.

Plant this evergreen to create a highly impactful living fence with interest through all four seasons or as an accent in your great. This evergreen is a great addition to a winter garden.

Plant in a location that has full sun to partial shade. This plant prefers to be in full sun. Shade will limit its growth.

It will flower with small, white and fragrant flowers in the early spring. The flowers are visited by bees, as they are an early spring source of food.

This evergreen prefers to be in a location with well draining and acidic soil. To make any soil more acidic, you can add sulfur or iron sulfate. You should avoid planting this evergreen in a location with clay, overly wet, or compacted soil.

Water it thoroughly until this plant is well established in your yard. Avoid over watering.

As a low maintenance option, this plant will not need fertilizer, but it can benefit from a balanced fertilizer if you notice it begin to decline.

This tree is a great source of food for local birds and small mammals.  Robins and Mockingbirds are particularly fond of the berries. They will nest amongst its branches.

This is a highly deer and rabbit resistant plant.

Noteworthy Characteristics

American Holly 6-10" is a dioecious plant, so be sure to get both a male and female plant in order for your evergreens to have berries.

As this plant matures, you will be able to create seasonal winter decorations like swags, garlands, or wreaths.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

Bloom Season

Spring

Bloom/Foliage Color

White

Height at Maturity

Over 25 Feet

Care

To care for American Holly, ensure well-drained, slightly acidic soil—water regularly during dry periods and mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Trim in late winter to retain shape and promote dense growth. Avoid over-fertilizing.

Plant Reproduction

American Holly spreads through seeds dispersed by birds and mammals.

Plant bare-root shrubs during the more excellent spring or fall months, from November through April. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root system and slightly more profound than its height. Position the shrub so that the top of the roots is level with the ground, and put back the soil dug over the roots. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, ensuring the mulch does not touch the shrub's stem. Water regularly, especially during the first year, to establish strong roots. Prune shrubs as needed to promote healthy growth. In the spring, fertilize with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer suited to the specific needs of the shrub.

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