Aquifoliaceae
American holly
Ilex opaca
Zones 5–9Sun Full SunWater ModerateCare Low
Trees & Shrubs · Tree · Evergreen · Native · Berries
HybridBeginner-friendly
Toxicity: dogs, cats, horses — keep out of reach and wear gloves when pruning.
Currently out of stock everywhereStock updated 9/10/2026
American holly has bright red berries and dark foliage.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- 1 inch per week · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 4.5–7
- Temperature
- -20°F to 90°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 5a-9b
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Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 20 ft – 40 ft
- Spread
- 20 ft
- Spacing
- 48 in apart
- Root depth
- Shallow
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
Sources: trefle
More Ilex
Related plants from the same genus
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No nursery lists American holly right now.