Holly, American
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Last Updated: Sep 11, 2024, 11:35 AM
This tree is one of the 150 trees initially included in the arboretum to coincide with the campus's 150th anniversary celebration.
Scientific Name:
Ilex opaca
Cultivar:
Native to:
Massachusetts to Florida, west to Missouri and Texas
Mature Height and Width:
30-40 feet by 18-40 feet
Additional Notes:
Sometimes called the Christmas holly, this species is a visual asset to many landscapes. More famously, the branches of female holly trees are used in holiday decorations, given the shiny leaves, and distinctive red fruits. A word of warning, holly leaves, with their sharp edges are the right size, shape and stiffness to become wedged in the arch of bare feet, leading to a distinct form of pain to the shoeless.