Ilex opaca (American Holly) Of the Holly family - Aquifoliaceae
Native Habitat: Massachusetts to Florida, west to Missouri and Texas.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, evergreen, 1.5 to 3.5" long, rarely nearly entire, from a single spine to 7 to 8 at most per side, dull to dark green above, occcasionally lustrous, yellowish beneath, glabrous.
Size: 40 to 50’ in North American but can grow up to 65′.
Stem: Moderate, green when young, sparsely pubescent in youth, finally glabrous, older stems gray to brown, rough, with circular raised lenticels.
Buds: Imbricate, about 1/8 to 1/6" long, greenish brown, slightly pubescent to glabrous, buds sit directly above leaf scar; leaf scar- half-moon shaped.
Preferred Soils: Moderately fertile, moist, loose, acid, well-drained soil; partial shade or full sun; avoid extremely dry, windy, unprotected places; does not tolerate poor drainage under cultivation; air pollution tolerant.
Hardiness Zone(s): 5 to 9.
(Source: Dirr, Manual of Woody Plants on Reserve, in Del Tredeci, Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast, A Field Guide on Reserve)













