American Holly (Opaca)

The American Holly (Opaca) is generally described as a perennial tree or shrub. This is native to the U.S. (United States) has its most active growth period in the spring and summer . The greatest bloom is usually observed in the mid spring, with fruit and seed production starting in the summer and continuing until fall. Leaves are retained year to year. The American Holly (Opaca) has a moderate life span relative to most other plant species and a slow growth rate. At maturity, the typical American Holly (Opaca) will reach up to 60 feet high, with a maximum height at 20 years of 20 feet.

The American Holly (Opaca) is easily found in nurseries, garden stores and other plant dealers and distributors. It can be propagated by bare root, container, cuttings, seed. It has a slow ability to spread through seed production and the seedlings have low vigor. Note that cold stratification is not required for seed germination and the plant cannot survive exposure to temperatures below -18°F. has medium tolerance to drought and restricted water conditions.

Uses of : Landscaping, Medicinal, Culinary, etc.

The attractive evergreen foliage and bright red fruit of this small tree make it a very popular for landscaping. The same attributes that allow this tree to be a desirable ornamental make it one of the most sought after greens for Christmas decoration. The firm bright red berries are consumed by white-tail deer and 18 species of birds. The dense foliage also provides cover and nesting habitat for various songbirds.

General Characteristics

American holly normally grows to heights of 15 to 30 feet tall, but records indicate mature heights of up to 100 feet. On the poor soils of coastal beaches, this holly may never exceed shrub size. The bark of it is smooth, and grayish to grayish-brown. The dense branches of this holly grow nearly horizontal in a spreading crown, which takes on a pyramidal silhouette.

The evergreen foliage is stiff and leathery in texture, with large, remotely spined teeth. The leaves are arranged alternately. They are 2 to 4 inches long, satin green and smooth above, and yellowish-green below.

Small, axillary, greenish-white flowers bloom from April to June. Like most others in the holly genus, American holly is dioecious. Pistillate flowers emerge in small clusters from one plant, while staminate flower clusters develop on another. Newly established plants will not flower for 4 to 7 years; prior to flowering there is no practical means of determining the gender of a plant. Bright red, rarely orange or yellow, globular fruit mature from September to October, but may be retained on the plant into the following spring. The berry-like fruit is about 1/3 inch in diameter, and contains 4 to 9 small nutlets. There are an average of 28,430 seeds per pound.

Required Growing Conditions

American holly grows from Massachusetts to Florida, west to Texas and Missouri, and is adapted to a wide range of site conditions. It grows best on well drained, sandy soils, but will tolerate those which are somewhat poorly drained. This small tree has good shade tolerance, but does well in direct sun. Although this species is often found growing on coastal sand dunes, it is not very salt spray tolerant.