ILEX opaca

Plant Systematics

 

CREATED BY

THANG TRUNG THAI

 

COMMON NAME- AMERICAN HOLLY

 

CLASS MAGNOLIOPSIDA

ORDER CELASTRALES

FAMILY AQUIFOLIACEAE

SUBFAMILY

TRIBE

GENUS ILEX

 

IDENTIFICATION

Zones 5,6,7,8,9

 

 

Size Height 15-30 feet; spread 10-20 feet.

 

Form Upright and conical with horizontal branches or open in poor growing conditions; medium density. Foliage - alternate, 2-4 inches long, 1-2 inches wide, stiff and leathery, not lustrous, margins usually spiny-toothed. Flower - spring; inconspicuous, male and female flowers on separate plants. Fruit - fall and winter; berrylike, 1/4 inch diameter; both male and female must be present for fruit.

 

Texture Medium to slightly coarse.

 

Color Foliage - dark green, light green beneath. Flower - white. Fruit - red. Bark - gray, smooth.

 

Culture Sun to part shade. Soil - good drainage; medium fertility. Moisture - medium to high. Pruning - balance and retain central leader. Pest problems - leaf miner. Growth Rate - slow.

 

Landscape Foliage sometimes disfigured by winter sun. Difficult to transplant from Notes wild. Best employed as specimen plant or in clumps as screen and border material. Fruit produced best in full sun. Allow lower limbs to branch to ground naturally. Interesting topiary. Will not tolerate direct salt spray.

 

Variety 'East Palatka' - small, light green leaves; adapted to moist, protected situations; dark red fruit.

 

This description comes from The Landscape Plants of the Southeast and Plants for American Landscapes; similar additional description can be found in Trees of the Southeastern United States.

 

Specimens of Ilex opaca are deposited at The University of Georgia Herbarium.

Live specimens can be found on campus and at Sam's Farm.

Ilex opaca.

AREA

STATUS

REFERENCES

North America:
Continental United States; Canada

Yes

1 & 2

Eastern North America:
United States east of Mississippi;
Ontario and eastern Canada

Yes

1 & 2

Southeastern United States:
AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV

Yes

1 & 2

Southern Appalachian States:
AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV

Yes

1 & 2

     
Coastal Plain

Widespread

1 & 2 T.Thai

Piedmont

Widespread

1 & 2

Blue Ridge Mountains

Marginal

t. Thai

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Probably

T. Thai

Ridge and Valley

Probably

T.Thai

Cumberland Plateau

Probably

T. Thai

Central Arch

Probably

T. Thai

     
Georgia

Yes

1 & 2

Clarke County, Georgia

Yes

UGA Herbarium Specimens

Sams Farm

Common

T.Thai, Pers. Ob.

Old Field

No

T. Thai, Pers. Ob.

Wetland

?

-

Woods

Common

T. Thai, Pers. Ob.

1-Hectare Plot

Common

T. Thai, Pers. Ob.

 

 

For Reference Click Here.