The harvesting season for Ilex opaca (American holly) typically begins in late October and continues through December.
American holly
Ilex opaca
American Holly (Ilex opaca) is a large evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, dark green leaves, red berries and white flowers. It is drought tolerant and does well in full or partial sun located in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9. This dense upright plant may reach a height of 20–40 feet, providing shelter for wildlife. Its glossy, serrated leaves and colorful berries offer year round interest even in the winter months, making it a great choice for gardens, hedges or windbreaks. Its hardiness and low maintenance makes it a popular choice for creating screens, windbreaks, or hedges.
Cycle:
Perennial
Watering:
Average
Propagation:
Layering Propagation,Cutting,Grafting Propagation,Air Layering Propagation,Division,Seed Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
5 - 9
Flowers:
Creamy white Flowers In Spring
Sun:
Full sun,part shade
Fruits:
green,red,yellow,orange,black Fruits Ready In
Edible:
Yes
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green
Growth Rate:
Low
Maintenance:
Low
Thorny:
Yes
Care Level:
Moderate
watering
American holly should be watered once every 7-10 days in the spring and summer, providing 1-2 inches of water per week, until the ground is saturated. During the fall and winter, reduce the watering to every 15–20 days, or when the top inch of soil is dry. If the leaves become wilted, the plant may need extra water.
sunlight
American holly (Ilex opaca) thrives best in full sun to partial shade, with approximately 4-6 hours of direct or indirect sunlight each day. Direct sunlight is best during the morning, as this will give the plant a chance to replenish it's moisture from the early morning dew. During the noon and afternoon, lightly filtered or indirect sunlight is best to provide shade and protect the leaves from drying out too quickly.
pruning
American holly should be pruned in late winter to early spring and only lightly pruned. If any shaping is necessary, it should be done when the plant is actively growing. Prune off any dead, damaged, or diseased branches as soon as you spot them throughout the year. Also, prune overgrown branches to reduce the overall size. When pruning, try to avoid removing more than 10-15% of the foliage since this will help maintain your plant's shape and health.
Season
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit
Starts Flowering
American holly typically starts flowering in April.
