American Holly is a slow growing, pyramidal, long lived evergreen tree that grows 15 to 30 feet. Native to the eastern and central U. S., it is the Christmas holly whose berry-laden boughs are typically collected at Christmas time each year for ornamental uses. It features thick, leathery, deep green leaves, 2 to 4 inches long and have spiny marginal teeth. American Holly is dioecious (male and female flowers are on separate trees). Flowers are green-white and fragrant, blooming in May thru June. Male flowers bloom in 3 to 12 flowered clusters and female flowers are solitary or in 2-3 clusters. Flowers are followed by green, 1/4 to 1/2 inch fruits, ripening to bright red or orange in the fall on female trees. Many kinds of songbirds, gamebirds, and mammals eat the bitter berries of this and other hollies, but the fruits are poisonous to humans.
