American Holly, Ilex opaca, Tree Seeds (Fragrant, Showy, Hardy Evergreen) For Sale

American Holly, Ilex opaca, Tree Seeds

Long Lived Evergreen, Winter Interest, Fragrant Flowers, Showy Fruits, Attracts Birds and Butterflies, Wildlife Food/Shelter, Shade Tree, Street Tree, Cold, Heat, Deer and Urban Tolerant, Bonsai

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.

American Holly is a beautifully shaped tree, with a symmetrical, dense, wide pyramidal form. The striking evergreen foliage is accented with clusters of red berries which persist throughout the fall and winter. It is best as a specimen or in small groups and ideal for use as a street or courtyard tree (with lower branches removed). It can also be pruned as an attractive hedge/screen. Because it does well in shade it is also a wonderful choice as an understory tree. Roots are shallow and finely branched and rarely invasive due to their great number and relatively small diameter. This tree is ideal for naturalizing on moist, slightly acid soils and the fruit is very attractive to wildlife, serving as an excellent food source. Foliage and red berries provide excellent color to the winter landscape and cuttings are popular additions to Christmas wreaths and other decorations. The whitish, fine-textured wood is especially suited for inlays in cabinetwork, handles, carvings and can be dyed various shades.

Uses: Hedge/Screen, understory tree, specimen or mass planting.

Use Ornamental: Christmas Decorations.
Use Wildlife: Berries attract many bird and small mammal species. Also provides cover and nesting sites. Larval plant for Henrys Elfin butterfly.
Use Other: White wood used in furniture, woodworking and other products.

Warning: Ilex fruits, while eagerly eaten by wildlife, are Poisonous to humans. Be certain that small children do not eat them.

Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen, elliptical, 2 to 4 inches long, spiny toothed margin, thickened and leathery, shiny dark green above, much paler below.
Flower: Species is dioecious; green-white, male flowers on 3 to 7 flowered cymes, female flowers are mostly solitary and fragrant, appearing in late spring.
Fruit: Berry-like drupe, red, rarely yellow when ripe, 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter, containing ribbed nutlets; maturing in fall and persisting on tree into winter.
Twig: Slender, with rust-colored pubescence; buds small reddish brown, pointed.
Bark: Light gray and smooth regardless of size.
Form: A small tree to 50 feet, with a thick crown and pyramidal form, usually with branches to the ground.

Other Names: Christmas Holly, White Holly

Zone: 5 to 9

Growth Rate: Slow

Plant Type: Broadleaf Evergreen
Family: Aquifoliaceae

Native Range:

Height: 35 to 50 feet
Spread: 15 to 25 feet
Shape: Pyramidal

Bloom Time: May

Bloom Color: Green-white

Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade

Drought Tolerance: Low, Medium

Water: Wet-Moderate
Maintenance: Low

Site Requirements /Soil Tolerances: Average to Acidic (pH<6.8), well-drained soil. Best protected from cold winter winds.

Culture: Plants are dioecious (separate male and female plants). For females to bear fruit, a male pollinator is needed. Plant, within 200 feet of each other. One male for every three females to insure that good pollination will take place.

Sowing Ilex opaca Seeds:

For best results, please follow the instructions in the order provided.

Scarify: Soak in warm water for 24 hours

Stratify: Warm 90-120 days, then, Cold 90-120 days, 40 Degrees F in a Moist Medium (Not Wet).

Germination: Sow 1/4” Deep, Keep Moist, (Not wet).

Can be sown outside in early Spring for germination the following Spring.

For more information about seed pretreatment and growing trees and shrubs from seed, please download this .pdf:

Germination:

1. Seeds Packets are labeled with seed name and sowing details.
2. Seeds have not been pretreated unless specified in the listing.
3. Seed is not a specific Cultivar (Variety) unless specified in the listing.
4. Due to the many factors involved in successful germination, Seller cannot be responsible for buyers growing methods or mistakes.
5. I have provided what I believe to be a good overview on this page (which you are free to print for further reference), however, it is still recommended to check specialist literature for more details and practices specific to your climate and soil conditions to avoid mistakes in the germination and growing process.

Shipping and Discounts:

All items are set up to automatically discount as follows:

1. Any promotional offers are discounted by using the \"Add to Cart \"only.

2. To qualify for any discounts, items must be paid together, on the same invoice.

3. If paid separately, no discounts will be applied though seller reserves the right to ship together.

4. If there are any questions or concerns about the amount due, please message me before paying so I can address all of your concerns before there is a problem.

5. Buyer assumes responsibility once payment has been made.

International Buyer’s:

It is the buyer’s responsibility to know their countries customs laws.

1. Plant and plant materials including seeds may be restricted from importing to your country. Please check with your customs agency and or post office before purchasing. Upon purchasing this item Buyer accepts the risk of item being confiscated and/or destroyed by customs and Seller will not be held liable for this.
2. If you are on my exclusion list it is because: “Plant and plant materials including seeds” are restricted from importing to your country, it is enforced by your country and there is a high rate of customs checking for this.
3. Import duties, taxes, and customs charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer\'s responsibility. Please check with your country\'s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying.
4. Tracking is not available for International items. International mail varies from 10 to 30 business days (postal working days) and some countries require certain International items to be picked up at your post office. Upon processing your order, you will be sent a customs number, your shipping date and your shipping address, which you will need in order to retrieve it from your post office if you are required to do so. If these are not picked up in a reasonable time they may be returned or discarded.
5. All mail items are subject to inspection by customs when crossing into another country. If stopped for inspection this will cause serious delays in receiving your item(s). You may or may not be notified of this. This may require you to pick up your package from your post office.