American Holly

Ilex opaca Aiton

Dimensions:

• Height: 40’ - 50’

• Mature spread: 18’ - 40’

• Trunk Diameter: 1’ - 3’

Habitat and Range:

• grows in rich moist woods and gorges, most often in sandstone in eastern and southern Kentucky, less frequent in southwestern part of the state

Features:

• may be trained and grown as a large shrub

• dark green leaves have large spiny teeth

• berry production is highest in full sun on female trees

• holly is a dioecious plant, which means it has separate male and female plants

• only the female plants produce berries

History:

• Native Americans extracted dye from the brightly colored berries in addition to collecting them for use as decorative buttons and trade items;

• preserved Holly berries were much sought after by other tribes who bartered for them

• infusions of the American Holly were used by Cherokee Indian tribes as an eye medicine and a dermatological aid