Bloomipedia
American holly (Ilex opaca)
Photo: Anne Parker via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering tree

American holly

Ilex opaca

American holly (Ilex opaca) is a tree in the Aquifoliaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

🌷 Flowering treeNative in the lower 48

American holly is a popular flowering tree. It's on our flower lists for 35 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

26states where USDA records it
35Bloomipedia state lists include it
57,174U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records. Planted garden trees are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Ilex opaca, the American holly, is a species of holly, native to the eastern and south-central United States, from coastal Massachusetts south to central Florida, and west to southeastern Missouri and eastern Texas.

  • It belongs to the Aquifoliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 26 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Virginia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 40 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 7,570 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #5 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 6,913 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #9 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 6,583 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #8 among the 189 flowers on our Maryland list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (457 records)
Bloom time in the 35 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (37)7,570
Virginia🌷 GardenApril–May6,913
Maryland🌷 GardenMay6,583
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records (38)5,152
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records (21)3,226
Georgia🌷 Gardenfew records (9)2,994
New York🌷 Gardenfew records (23)2,939
South Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (19)2,675
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenfew records (20)2,551
Texas🌷 Gardenfew records (27)2,055
Tennessee🌷 Gardenfew records (4)2,038
Florida🌷 Gardenfew records (37)1,811
Ohio🌷 Gardenfew records (11)1,729
Alabama🌷 Gardenfew records (19)1,477
Kentucky🌷 Gardenfew records (9)1,212
Delaware🌷 Gardenfew records (14)1,159
West Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (5)756
Arkansas🌷 Gardenfew records (5)673
Mississippi🌷 Gardenfew records (11)587
Connecticut🌷 Gardenfew records (3)522
Louisiana🌷 Gardenfew records (2)485
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenfew records (3)476
Indiana🌷 Gardenfew records (4)315
Missouri🌷 Gardenno flowering records207
Illinois🌷 Gardenno flowering records151
Oklahoma🌷 Gardenno flowering records98
Michigan🌷 Gardenfew records (1)91
Kansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
Maine🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
California🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Colorado🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Oregon🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Washington🌷 Gardenno flowering records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 22 of our 35 states.
See each state
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S5, secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Texas. 31 TAC 69.8
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S5, secure in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: S5, secure in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe has no Michigan rank for it. R 299.1028
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe has no Maine rank for it. Maine rare plant list
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe has no Wisconsin rank for it. NR 27.03
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe has no New Hampshire rank for it. NH Ncr 312
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe has no California rank for it. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe has no Oregon rank for it. OAR 603-073-0070
Pennsylvania
State threatened On Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023): state threatened. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
New York
Variety listed Only Ilex opaca var. opaca is on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3) (exploitably vulnerable (protected from picking without the landowner's permission)). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in South Carolina.
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in West Virginia.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
Louisiana
No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Indiana.
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oklahoma.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe has no Kansas rank for it.
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe has no Colorado rank for it.
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe has no Washington rank for it.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: it's on Pennsylvania's rare plant list (state threatened); Ilex opaca var. opaca is on New York's rare plant list (exploitably vulnerable). 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45 6 NYCRR § 193.3

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: fruits. Symptoms they list: “Nausea, vomiting (not in horses), diarrhea, depression.” NC State Extension

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “American Holly” (Ilex opaca) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Vomiting (not in horses), diarrhea and depression. Please note that individual plants may differ in appearance. Please be sure to check the name of the plant to determine its… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records American holly in 26 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Ashe, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Carteret, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Dare, Davidson, Davie, Duplin, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Hertford, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Martin, McDowell, Montgomery, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Orange, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rowan, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Tyrrell, Union, Wake, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Accomack, Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Bland, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesapeake , Chesterfield, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Hampton , Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Lee, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Newport News , Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Richmond, Rockingham, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Suffolk , Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Virginia Beach , Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Wise, York.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives American holly a low shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -20 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
4.5 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-20 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
140
Annual precipitation range
40 to 80 inches
Minimum root depth
30 inches
Salinity tolerance
Medium
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Red · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ILOP. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 756 counties across 23 states; the most are in North Carolina (83), Virginia (81), Kentucky (77).

Other Ilex on Bloomipedia (4): Yaupon holly, Winterberry, Inkberry, Japanese holly.

More North Carolina flowers

Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)

Yaupon holly

Ilex vomitoria

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in North Carolina gardens
Inkberry (Ilex glabra)

Inkberry

Ilex glabra

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in North Carolina gardens
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in North Carolina gardens

Sources