Holly

Ilex sp.

American Holly (Ilex opaca) - popular landscape plant since the beginning of American history, this broad-leafed evergreen has served a variety of uses through the years (Fig. 1). The American Indians used preserved Holly berries as decorative buttons and were much sought after by other tribes who bartered for them. The wood has been used for making canes, scroll work and furniture, and has even been substituted for ebony in inlay work when stained black.

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American Holly information provided with permission of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension, Publication #ENH463, one of a series. Original publication date November 1993. Revised December 2006. Reviewed February 2014. For more information visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.