Ilex decidua
Possumhaw · also Meadow holly, Deciduous holly, Swamp holly
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Ilex decidua is a deciduous holly with glossy green leaves that turn purplish in autumn. It grows as an upright shrub or small tree with a rounded crown, typically found in wet habitats. Its abundant orange to red berries provide high value for urban wildlife, especially birds, deer, and small mammals.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 180.01%2.7 yr19 in
- 90.01%—5.0 in
Traits
- Form
- Broadleaf
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Mature height
- 5–15 ft
- Canopy spread
- 6–20 ft
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate
- Wildlife value
- High
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 19 in, mean 15 in, 90th percentile 19 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
- East Central Texas forests
- Mississippi lowland forests
- Northeast US Coastal forests
Temperate Grasslands, Savannas & Shrublands
- Texas blackland prairies
Other Ilex in the catalogue
17 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
