Learn about 18 Common Types of Holly Plant (2023)

01 of 18

American Holly (Ilex opaca)

American holly is often used as a substitute for English holly (Ilex aquifolium) in Christmas decorations where the latter does not grow well. They are similar in appearance with spiny-toothed leaves and an abundance of red berries. This plant has a number of other common names, including hummock holly, dune holly, and scrub holly. In 1939, American holly was named as thestate tree of Delaware.

If you only have room for oneAmerican holly tree, look for the 'Croonenburg' variety. It is able to pollinate itself because it has male and female flowers on the same plant. If you prefer yellow fruit, choose the 'Canary' variety. There is also a female version with yellow fruit, labeled I. opacaf. xanthocarpa.

• Native Area:Southern and eastern United States
• USDA Zones:5 to 9
• Height:15 feet to 60 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

02 of 18

Carolina Holly (Ilex ambigua)

Carolina holly is one of the deciduous species of holly. It can grow well in sandy soils, leading to another of the plant's common names—sand holly. Bright red fruits are produced in the fall, though they tend to fall off easily, which makes them less visually interesting in the winter.

Other common names for Carolina holly include possum holly and ambiguous winterberry.

• Native Area:Southeastern U.S.
• USDA Zones:7 to 9
• Height:15 feet to 20 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

03 of 18

Catberry (Ilex mucronata)

The catberry used to be known as Nemopanthus mucronatus, but it is now classified as part of the Ilex genus. This shrub likes areas that are moist. Like the long-stalked holly, the red fruit is found at the end of long stems called peduncles. The fruit is a source of food for migratory birds. This plant is also known by alternative common names: mountain holly.

• Native Area:Eastern North America
• USDA Zones:Hardy to zone 4
• Height:6 feet to 10 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to partial shade

04 of 18

Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta)

Chinese holly, also known as horned holly, is an evergreen shrub or small tree that can be planted as part of a drought-tolerant landscape. The name horned holly comes from the shape of the leaves. On the species plant, three of the spiny lobes stick up and look like horns. This is an excellent choice for a pruned privacy hedge.

• Native Area:China and Korea
• USDA Zones:7 to 9
• Height:6 feet to 25 feet, depending on the variety
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

05 of 18

Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

The common winterberry shrub will provide a vibrant pop of color in your winter landscape, thanks to the abundance of scarlet berries. This species does well in wet areas and its native habitats are places like bogs or swamps. It may produce suckersand spread through your yard.

There are many common names by which I. verticillata is known regionally: coralberry, black alder, Michigan holly, Canada holly, deciduous holly, fever bush, Virginian winterberry, brook alder, and swamp holly.

• Native Area:Eastern North America
• USDA Zones:3 to 9
• Height:6 feet to 12 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

06 of 18

Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine)

If you have a location that tends to be a bit wetter than most plants like, consider hunting down a dahoon holly, also known as cassena. These small trees are naturally found in swampy areas. It has three varieties:Ilex cassinevar.cassine,I. cassinevar.angustifoliaandI. cassinevar.mexicana.Some botanists also consider the myrtle-leaved holly to be a variety of this species.

• Native Area:Caribbean, eastern United States, and Mexico
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 10
• Height: 20 to 40 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to partial shade

07 of 18

English Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

When someone mentions holly, especially in conjunction with Christmas, they often mean English holly. Its familiar shape is the one used to adorn Christmas decorations and inspire songs. This widespread plant has several common names, including Christmas holly, common holly, Oregon holly, and European holly.

There are cultivars available with characteristics such variegated leaves ('Monvila-Gold Coast') or golden/apricot fruit ('Apricot Glow'). The blue hollies or Meserve hollies (Ilex x meserveae) resulted from crossing this species withTsuruholly (Ilex rugosa).

• Native Area:Europe, Asia,and Africa
• USDA Growing Zones:7 to 9
• Height:15 to 50 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

08 of 18

Finetooth Holly (Ilex serrata)

This is another of the deciduous holly species, and it handles cold better than some of the other species. Finetooth holly may also be known as Japanese winterberry or deciduous holly. If you prefer a cultivar with yellow fruit instead of the more common red ones, choose I. leucocarpa (which may also have white fruit), 'Sundrops', or I. xanthocarpa.

A cultivar named 'Sparkleberry' with bright red berries is the result of a cross between this species and thecommon winterberry(Ilex verticillata).

• Native Area:China and Japan
• USDA Growing Zones:5 to 8
• Height:6 to 15 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

09 of 18

Hawaiian Holly (Ilex anomala)

As the name suggests, this species of holly isendemicto the Hawaiian Islands, where it may be called ʻAiea, kāwaʻu, kä‘awa‘u, or Hawai'i holly.

Like the inkberry, the fruit on this species is purple-black. The happy face spider plant (Theridion grallator) likes to live on this plant.

• Native Area:Hawaii
• USDA Growing Zones:11 to 12
• Height:30 feet to 40 feet tall
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to partial shade

10 of 18

Inkberry (Ilex glabra)

Most cultivars of the inkberry produce black fruit on the female plants, though 'Ivory Queen' and 'Leucocarpa' have white fruit. The leaves on this species do not have spines. This plant can become invasive if you do not prune away the suckers.

Among other common names used for this plant: evergreen winterberry, inkberry holly, gallberry, and bitter gallberry.

• Native Area:Eastern and south-central U.S.
• USDA Growing Zones:5 to 9
• Height:4 to 8 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

11 of 18

Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)

The alternative common name box-leaved holly is sometimes used for Japanese holly because the leaves look like those ofboxwood shrubs. The fruit produced is black and not as distinct as others in the genus. Japanese holly is considered to be invasive in some area.

This holly species can be used to create topiaries. 'Sky Pencil'is afastigiatecultivar—one with erect, parallel branches—that can be used to create aliving fence. 'Golden Gem' is a variegated cultivar that garnered the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

• Native Area:China, Korea,and Japan
• USDA Growing Zones:5 to 8
• Height:3 to 10 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

12 of 18

Longstalked Holly (Ilex pedunculosa)

This species is called long-stalked holly because the fruit is found at the end of a long stalk called a peduncle. These plants are good for adding color to your garden during fall and winter. This holly is a good choice for urban locations since it is able to handle pollution and salt.

• Native Area:China, Japan, and Taiwan
• USDA Growing Zones:5 to 8
• Height:10 to 30 feet (usually short of the maximum)
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to partial shade

13 of 18

Lusterleaf Holly (Ilex latifolia)

The green leaves on this holly species are indeed lustrous. The foliage is used in China to brew a tea. The berries are not as bright as those on other species, though they still add color during wintertime. This plant may also be known as Tarajo holly, or just Tarajo.

• Native Area:China and Japan
• USDA Growing Zones:7 to 9
• Height:15 to 25 feet tall, sometimes up to 60 feet in native locations
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

14 of 18

Myrtle-Leaved Holly (Ilex myrtifolia)

The leaves on this tree are like those of the myrtle (Myrtus communis), inspiring the common and species names. The leaves are tiny and spineless. Some botanists consider this to be a variety of the dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) and the two are said to cross sometimes.

Other common names for this plant include: dahoon, myrtle dahoon, myrtle holly, and myrtleleaf holly.

• Native Area:Southeastern U.S.
• USDA Growing Zones:7 to 10
• Height:Usually 15 to 25 feet, but can reach more than 40 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

15 of 18

Round Leaf Holly (Ilex rotunda)

The foliage of the round leaf holly does not have spines. This tree is one of the species that quickly returned after the Hiroshima bombing in 1945—a testament to its tenacity. The Japanese name given to these survivors is Hibakujumoku. It is also known by the common names Kurogane holly and Kurogane-mochi.

• Native Area: China,Japan, Korea,and Vietnam
• USDA Growing Zones:9 to 11
• Height: Up to 40 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

16 of 18

Small-Leaved Holly (Ilex canariensis)

Some hollies are endemic and only found in limited areas. The small-leaved holly comes from a couple of islands near the north African coast and grows in a type of forest calledlaurisilva or laurel forest. This species also carries the common names of azevinho and acebiño.

• Native Area: Macaronesian islandsof Madeira and Canarias
• USDA Growing Zones: 11 to 12
• Height: Up to 32 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

17 of 18

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)

If you live near a seashore, choose this yaupon holly as it tolerates salt well. It also serves as adrought-tolerant tree.

The name Indian black drink is used because the berries of this species were used in a ceremonial drink by Native Americans. It would make them vomit, leading to the species name and the other common name of emetic holly.

• Native Area:Southeastern United States
• USDA Zones:7 to 9
• Height:4 to 30 feet
• Sun Exposure:Full sun to part shade

18 of 18

Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis)

Tea made from this plant is traditionally placed inside a gourd and served with a metal straw in South America. These straws are capped at the end with a piece full of small holes. They allow one to drink the tea without sipping up bits of leaves. The foliage contains caffeine and theobromine, which are also found in cacao beans. Some studies suggest that there may be health benefits offered by the plant and it is traditionally used in alternative medicine worldwide.

This species needs to be grown in soil that is acidic. You can create new plants through seed germination. The new tree will be ready for foliage use in a few years. In practice, each plant is only harvested every other year so that it retains enough leaves for proper growth.

• Native Area:Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay
• USDA Growing Zones:9 to 11
• Height: Up to 60 feet
• Exposure:Full sun to partial shade