Ilex opaca

COMMON NAME: American Holly, Prickly Holly, Evergreen Holly

FAMILY: Holly Family; Aquifoliaceae

GROWTH HABIT: Small tree to 20 m tall forming a narrow pyramidal head.

FOLIAGE: Alternate, simple, evergreen. 2-4 inches long. Margin with spiny outcurved teeth. leathery; rather dull green above, paler below.

BUDS: 2-6 mm long, scales brown with short hairs and ciliated margins.

BARK: Roughened by little warts, greenish or grayish and not furrowed or scaly.

FLOWERS: Short clusters from the axils of young leaves, on slender stalks, the male culters 3- to 9-flowered, but the female only 1- or rarely 2-flowered, blooming in midspring, small and greenish.

FRUIT: Small, round, bright red berry-like droop remaining on the tree through the winter.

NATIVE HABITAT: Southern New England to Florida and Texas