Cold hardiness

Heat tolerance

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 41 ecoregions — 39 climate-resilient through 2070 · 1 suited today · 1 newly possible by 2070. Best matches first.

What it needs

Lifecycle

Pollination

Dioecious — male and female flowers are on separate trees, and only pollinated female trees produce the showy red-to-orange berries the plant is grown for. A male of the same holly species, blooming at the same time, must grow nearby (a wild male in the vicinity will also serve). Greenish-white flowers bloom May-June; without a compatible male in range, female trees flower but set no fruit (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center).

Plants don't grow alone

For people

Grown as an evergreen ornamental and for winter wildlife value, not for human food. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center notes that many songbirds, gamebirds, and mammals eat the bitter berries of this and other hollies, but the fruits are poisonous to humans. Holly (Ilex) is also listed as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Native range

Climate notes

In the designer

Seasonal interest

Botanical research database

Photo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Botanical research database