What is Ilex Opaca?

ilex opaca is a kind of evergreen tree, also known as American Holly. The tree, which comes from the southeastern part of the United States, reaches a maximum mature height of up to 50 feet (about 15 meters) in its native environment, although landscape trees are generally much smaller. Its green leaves and bright red berries are often used in Christmas decorations, including grazing and wreath.

also known as Dune Holly, Christmas Holly and Scrub Holly, ilex Opaca can be found in the American states south of Delaware. In general, the south are trees, the larger they get. Trees have a relative slow growth and are very tolerant of shady areas; They are often found to grow between and under larger trees such as pine.

The tree has leather leaves similar to the leaves of other types of Holly. The leaves are still green, boring colors, about 3.5 inches (8.8 cm) long and are supported by the Crooked branch maze. Flowers appear at the end of spring, usually in June and are small and white. Male andFemale trees are easy to recognize while flowers bloom flowing on the stem and the flowers of men bloom in clusters. Because trees are either male or women, more than one for fertilization must be planted in the area; The distinctive Holly berries are created only if there has been a pollination.

After the flower of the flowers, a woman pollinated illex opaca small red berries that are actually seeds. These berries and evergreen leaves are a popular picture for Christmas and the berries remain on trees and in areas with cold, snowy winters. In general, they are not tasty for deer or other animals and can create attractive accent trees that bring color to what would be otherwise white landscape.

These slow -growing trees have long life and samples that are over 100 years old. Were some cases where areas were shaken by almost infertile Holly strOmy due to the suitability of their branches for winter decoration. In some American states, the laws to protect wild trees have been passed, and this allowed to flourish ilex opaca .

ilex opaca was hybridized to create a number of cultivars. Some have leaves that are darker green than the parent plant, and others do yellow berries instead of red. Because these berries are such a desirable feature of a tree, some cultivars have been created that bears more berries than the parental original. Most trees selected as landscape plants are one of the hybridized cultivars.