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Ilex aquifolium is the holly most people think of when they picture holly, with its glossy, spiny, dark leaves, and bright red fruit. Ilex opaca is native to the United States from Massachusetts to Florida, and west to Missouri and Texas. In Massachusetts, it grows to be a smaller tree, 20 to 30 feet tall.
American holly is a broad-leaf evergreen with a beautiful shape, but with a variety of insect and disease problems. The tree offers clusters of red berries that persist throughout fall and winter. Male and female fl owers are on separate trees, so trees of both sexes must be located within the same area to ensure fruit production. Culture:
As with other hollies, American Holly requires male and female trees for fruit set (one male to every two to three females). Dense with lustrous foliage and ¼” round red drupes, this native evergreen tree provides protective shelter and long-lasting food for wildlife throughout the winter. Many birds and animals enjoy the fruit including cedar
The American holly is dioecious, having female and male trees. Since the pilgrims first settled in New England, American holly was noted for its striking similarity to English holly that is known to be used for decorating during the Christmas holiday season.
The American holly needs to have both a female and male plant to produce berries. The small fragrant greenish white flowers bloom in the spring and summer on both the male and female plants; this trait is known as dioecious. The male holly produces the pollen and the female holly produces the berries.
Sizes of American holly vary considerably, from bushy shrubs to small 40- to 50-foot-tall trees on to moderately-sized trees of 60 to 70 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter. Larger trees, to a maximum of 100 feet by 4 feet, have been recorded. Growth rate is poor, and American holly may take from 100 to 150 years to mature.
The male blossoms have four stamens. The female blossoms have a central green ovary with a pistil attached that produces the berry. As previously stated, American hollies are difficult to transplant except as small seedling and those are usually poorly shaped. The best way to look at planting a holly is that you are planting one for the