Holly

(Ilex Opaca)

Interesting Information About Plant:

     Indians used the berries as decorative buttons. These were highly sought after, and various tribes traded them.

Used for piano keys and violins.

Indians boiled Holly twigs in conjunction with other plant ingredients in a remedy used to treat coughs. Around 2000 years ago Druids believed the holly to be a sacred plant. They believed it to deter evil spirits. When the pilgrims landed in the eastern United States, American Holly reminded them of English Holly, which had been a longstanding Christmas tradition in Britain.

Holly became so popular their braches were stolen from private homes.

The Christmas tradition began with the Celtic people, who used it for decorative purposes. “They associated the prickly holly leaves with the crown of thorns and the bright red berries with the blood of Christ.” (www.nwholly.org)

In some places, it was thought to keep away lightning and witches

In Argentina, Holly is used to make a popular tea

Common Name: Holly

Scientific Name:   Ilex Opaca

Family Name (Scientific and Common):   Aquifoliaceae - Holly

Continent of Origin: North America

Plant Growth Habit:     Shrub &  Small Tree  

Height at Maturity:   Between 3 – 10 Feet

Life Span:    Perennial (100 years or more)

Seasonal Habit:    Evergreen Perennial  

Growth Habitat: Partial Sun  

Manner of Culture: Landscape Shrub-Vine-Tree

Thorns on Younger Stem?:   No

Cross Section of Younger Stem:  Roundish  

Stem (or Trunk) Diameter: Trunk: Up to 20 inches Stem: Between the diameter of a pencil and a broomstick

Produces Brownish Bark?:   No

Bark Peeling in Many Areas?:  No

Characteristics of Mature (Brownish) Bark: Smooth Bark

Type of Leaf:   Flat, Thin Leaf 

Length of Leaf (or Leaflet):   Less than Length of a Credit

Leaf Complexity:    Simple

Shape of Leaf:    Simple 

Edge of Leaf?:    Serrated

Leaf Arrangement:  Alternate

Leaf has Petiole?:  Yes 

Patterns of Main-Veins:  Pinnate

Leaf Hairiness:  No Hairs

Color of Foliage in Summer:    Green 

Change in Color of Foliage in October:     No Change    

Flowering Season:   late Spring 

Flowers:    Tightly Clustered  

Type of Flower: Colorful Flower

Color of Flower: White

Shape of Individual Flower:    Bilaterally Symmetrical  

Size of Individual Flower:  Smaller than a Quarter  

Sexuality:   Male and Female Flowers on Separate Plants

Size of Fruit:    Smaller than a Quarter 

Fruit Fleshiness at Maturity?:    Dry

Shape of Fruit:    Spherical  

Color of Fruit at Maturity:   Red  

Fruit Desirable to Birds or Squirrels?:      Yes

Unique Morphological Features of Plant: 

Is the Plant Poisonous: Part of Plant

Pesty Plant (weedy, hard to control)?:   No

Page prepared by:

Mary Beth Craig

 November 2005