 |
|
Mature Height
|
40 to 50 feet |
|
Mature Spread
|
20 to 35 feet |
|
Soil Type
|
Widely adaptable |
|
Moisture
|
Well drained |
|
Mature Form
|
Pyramidal |
|
Growth Rate
|
Medium |
|
Sun Exposure
|
Full Sun to Partial
Shade |
|
Flower Color
|
Whitesh green |
|
Fall Color
|
Green |
|
Foliage Color
|
Green |
|
Zones
|
5-9 |
|
Price: 24.95
The American Holly, Ilex opaca, is also called white holly or Christmas holly. The tree has been one of the most valuable and popular trees in the Eastern United States for its foliage and berries, Christmas decorations, and for ornamental plantings.
It stays green year round. Like the southern pines, American holly is primarily a plant of the humid Southeast. American Holly is the only native North American holly that attains tree size, and although slow growing, it is well worth the wait.
Growth is best on moist, slightly acid, well-drained sites such as upland pine sites and hammocks. The tree needs to be protected from drying winter sun and winds. Cross pollinate to get red, berry-like fruit.
American Holly Pests
Holly leaf miner larvae mines out the leaf middle
leaving yellow or brown trails.
Scales of various types may infest Holly.
Spider mites cause discoloration and speckling of Holly
foliage.
American Holly Diseases
Tar spot may occasionally cause small yellow spots on
the leaves in early summer. Eventually the spots turn
reddish brown with narrow yellow borders. Leaves may not
drop prematurely but the infected areas drop out leaving
holes in the leaves. Gather up and destroy badly
infected leaves.
Many different fungi cause leaf spots on Holly. Reduce
the injury caused by leaf spots by keeping trees
healthy. Dispose of diseased leaves. Black root rot can
be damaging.
Cankers caused by several different fungi lead to sunken
areas on stems and plant dieback. Keep trees healthy and
prune out infected branches.
Spine spot is small gray or yellow spots with purple
margins and is caused by spines of one leaf puncturing
an adjacent leaf.
Chlorosis symptoms are light green or yellowish leaves
with darker green veins. This problem is often due to a
high pH leading to iron deficiency. Use acidifying
fertilizers and sulfur to bring down the pH. Sprays of
iron chelate will green up plants.
In northern climates, Hollies sometimes scorch during
the late winter due to rapid and wide temperature
fluctuations. Shade plants during the winter to prevent
the problem.
Purple blotches on the leaves are caused by some
environmental factor such as nutrient deficiencies,
drought, and winter injury.
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