Species American holly
Red fruit with light-green stem, green leaves, yellow blades, yellow midrib and veins.

American holly

Ilex opaca 'Mae'

American holly (Ilex opaca ‘Mae’) is an evergreen shrub with many unique ornamental features. It has dark green, leathery leaves that are sharply toothed along the edges and bear white-gray fruits during winter. American holly grows up to 25 feet high and stands out with its striking foliage —an excellent choice for topiaries or hedges. It is also very resilient and can live in almost any kind of soil. In addition, deer are largely uninterested in American holly, making it a great addition to gardens in deer-prone areas.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Air Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation,Cutting,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 9

Flowers:

Greenish-white Flowers In Spring

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Fruits:

red Fruits Ready In Fall

Edible:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

watering

American Holly (Ilex opaca 'Mae') should be watered once a week, using approximately 1 inch of water. When watering American Holly ensure to evenly moisten the soil around the plant, and avoid getting the leaves wet. It is important to not over water, as this could cause root rot in the plant. During summer months, it is a good idea to check the soil frequently to ensure it is evenly moist. If the soil is too dry, water the American Holly more frequently until the soil is moist. During winter months, the American Holly needs very little water, depending on the climate, as too much water could damage the plant.

sunlight

American holly (Ilex opaca 'Mae') thrives in direct sunlight for up to 6 hours a day. This evergreen shrub prefers a sunny spot with some protection from strong winds in order to remain healthy. As for its water needs, it should be watered evenly during the spring and summer months and then decreased during the winter months. An added bonus is that this plant species is very tolerant of shade, so you can still have nice foliage even if you can't provide it full sun all the time.

pruning

American holly should be pruned in late winter to early spring. The amount of pruning should be kept to a minimum to prevent shock to the plant.Light trimming or pruning can be done to remove dead or diseased branches. For a more controlled look, American holly can also be pruned to maintain its shape and encourage a denser growth. It's not necessary to prune American holly every year, but it should be done every few years.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

Harvesting of Ilex opaca 'Mae' (American holly) typically begins in late October and continues through December.

Starts Flowering

American holly typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map