American Holly
Ilex opaca
Family: Aquifoliaceae
American Holly grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained acidic loam. Water needs: Moderate.
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How to Grow American Holly
American Holly growing information includes sunlight requirements of Full sun to partial shade, soil conditions listed as Well-drained acidic loam with a soil pH of 5.0-6.5, and Moderate water needs. The listed hardiness zones are 5-9. For propagation reference, the database lists germination or establishment information for American Holly as 60-120 days after stratification, with planting or establishment depth listed as 1/2 inch. Days to maturity are listed as Several years to maturity.
Plant Overview
American Holly (Ilex opaca) is listed in the Aquifoliaceae family and categorized as a tree with a perennial life cycle. This profile summarizes growing information for hardiness, light, soil, water, seed starting, maturity, and other available cultivation details. Difficulty is listed as Moderate.
- Plant ID
- PLT-0331
- Family
- Aquifoliaceae
- Plant type
- Tree
- Life cycle
- Perennial
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Growing Conditions
American Holly is listed for full sun to partial shade conditions. Water needs are listed as moderate. The database soil reference is Well-drained acidic loam. The listed soil pH range is 5.0-6.5, and the listed hardiness range is 5-9.
- Hardiness zones
- 5-9
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade
- Soil
- Well-drained acidic loam
- Soil pH
- 5.0-6.5
- Water needs
- Moderate
Seed & Germination
For seed starting, the listed germination time is 60-120 days after stratification and the seed depth is 1/2 inch. Maturity guidance: Several years to maturity. Use these values as general reference points and adjust for local climate, seed source, and growing conditions.
- Germination
- 60-120 days after stratification
- Seed depth
- 1/2 inch
Harvest & Propagation
- Days to maturity
- Several years to maturity
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Growing Reference Note
Plant performance can vary with climate, soil, weather, cultivar, seed quality, and gardening methods. The values on this page are general database reference ranges rather than a substitute for local extension guidance or seed-packet instructions.