Species of the Month

December’s Species of the Month, like last December’s, is a living symbol of Christmas. Holly, with its green leaves and red berries, has become of a jolly symbol of the most wonderful time of the year. The Species of the Month is American holly, native to the eastern US and lower Midwest.

Scientific name: Ilex opaca

Kingdom: Plantae (plants)

Class:   Magnoliopsida (dicots)

Order: Celastrales (flowering trees)

Range: New York and southern New England south to the Gulf Coast, west to Texas

Habitat: Well-drained forests, coastal areas

Lifespan: About 100 years

Diet: Sunlight and water

Predators: Insects including southern red mite, holly leafminer, and holly midge; fungal diseases; birds may eat the berries and herbivores may browse the leaves.

Conservation Status: No federal protection; listed as Exploitably Vulnerable in New York and Threatened in Pennsylvania.

Winter holly at Gateway National Recreation Area (NPS Facebook photo)

Other Information: American holly is used as an ornamental planting. Its branches are used in Christmas wreaths. The Pilgrims named American holly, based on its similar looks to their familiar English holly, which had been established as a Christmas decoration for some time. A slow grower, it is typically an understory plant, although some have been known to reach 100 feet tall. Because it is usually found in the understory, it is rarely the dominant plant in a forest. However, an excellent example of a holly forest can be found at Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Both male and female hollies flower, but only the females produce berries. Birds are an important method of seed dispersal. Holly’s wood is among the whitest woods on the market. It is not very strong so its commercial use is limited. Small green flowers are hardly noticeable.

This week's holly information comes from the US Forest Service. 

My 2016 Christmas card, featuring holly in my yard

Coastal holly in North Carolina (NPS)

More holly in New Jersey (NPS Facebook photo)