American Holly
Ilex opaca · Aquifoliaceae (Holly family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, evergreen
Shape
Elliptic to oblong with 3 to 7 spiny-tipped teeth or shallow lobes
Margin
Spinose-dentate
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent midrib and obscure secondary veins
Key Features
Leathery texture, dull green to brownish upper surface, and distinctive spiny teeth along the margin
Description
An upright, pyramidal evergreen tree reaching heights of 15 to 50 feet with smooth gray bark. Produces inconspicuous white flowers followed by bright red globose drupes that persist through winter
Habitat
Understory tree in moist deciduous forests, swamp borders, and well-drained acidic soils in full sun to partial shade
Native Range
Native to the southeastern and east-central United States
Notes
In Sumter South Carolina
Identified on 10/16/2026