About Us
Deciduous Hollies in Alabama
By Wayne Webb of Camden, Al
Reprinted with permission, all rights reserved,
Written for the Alabama Wildflower Society Newsletter
Among the most familiar and widespread native plants in Alabama are the hollies. Almost everyone recognizes the glossy green, sharp-spined leaves and red fruit characteristic of the American holly, Ilex opaca. Many other species of evergreen hollies- native, exotic, and hybrids- are commonly used as foundation shrubbery, hedges, or specimen plants. Less well known are the deciduous hollies. As a group these plants tend to be rather nondescript except when in fruit. Then the red fruit makes the plants conspicuous and at times, especially after leaf fall, spectacular. Even a casual observer traveling through the Black Belt region in the dormant season would notice the multitude of red-fruited shrubs, Ilex decidua, occurring in the fence rows. They provide a welcome splash of color amid the gray and brown tones of the winter landscape.
Deciduous hollies are primarily appreciated and cultivated for their fruit. While the foliage and growth form can provide added interest, the attributes of the fruit (color, quantity, size, and retention), adaptability to a variety of sites, and ease of propagation are the primary considerations for making landscape selections. This explains the popularity of I. decidua and I. verticillata, both of which meet these criteria and have several worthy cultivars suitable for most situations. A leafless, heavily fruited deciduous holly makes a beautiful addition to the winter landscape and is a valuable late season food source for song birds. To quote George Wood, “A healthy specimen of the right plant in the right place is the ultimate in good gardening.” It is hard to imagine a good garden with adequate space that would not benefit from the inclusion of nice deciduous hollies. Remember that hollies are dioecious, male and female flowers on separate plants; so pollinators must be provided if they do not occur nearby. [Many AWS members know Ray Head of Rutherfordton, NC. Ray is an expert concerning the cultivation of hollies and has agreed to answer questions on this subject. He can be contacted at jrhead_1@yahoo.com.]
Those who lack the time, space, or inclination to cultivate deciduous hollies can still enjoy and appreciate them in their native habitats as we do most native woody plants. They occur throughout the state in habitats ranging from xeric sand hills to standing water. It is generally accepted that there are six species of deciduous hollies in Alabama. Following is a brief description of each.
Ilex decidua - Deciduous holly, Possum haw
(Most books list possum haw as a common name, but I’ve never heard anyone use it for this species, although it is used for a couple of Viburnum, especially V. nudum)
This is the most common and widespread member of this group in Alabama, occurring throughout the state on wet to dry usually clay soils. It is very abundant in the Black Belt and in alluvial bottomlands. Deciduous holly is a densely branched, multi-stemmed shrub with light colored bark and shiny, light-dark green leaves. The leaves vary quite a bit in length and width but are always widest above the middle, have a cuneate base, and crenate margin. The fruit is usually shiny orange-red on short stalks often appearing sessile. I say usually because the color can range from light yellow to scarlet with an infinite variety in between. It is interesting to observe this variation while traveling about. Depending on how hungry the birds are, the fruit can hang on until spring. Deciduous holly can reach 20-30 feet in height and an equal width if open grown but is usually much smaller. This species is the most tolerant of alkaline and heavy soils of this group. It is easily grown on most sites with many fine cultivars available. Interestingly, the two commercially available yellow-fruited cultivars, ‘Byers Golden’ and ‘Finch’s Golden’, were both discovered in the Black Belt of Alabama- the former near Fort Deposit, the later near Uniontown.
Ilex longipes - Georgia holly, Long-stalked holly
Though it occurs throughout the state, this species is much less common than the former. It grows on moist to xeric upland sites. It is similar in appearance to the former but differs most noticeably, as the name implies, by the long fruit stalks. Also the leaves tend to be broader and though widest above the middle, are less obviously so than in I. decidua. This species is more single-stemmed and has a more open growth form than the former. Intermediate forms do occur. The fruit is glossy red and hangs cherry-like on a long pedicel. The finest specimens I’ve seen occur on very dry, sandy sites with Ilex ambigua on the Lawler property in Wilcox County, which many of you had the pleasure of visiting a couple of April’s ago. We did briefly look at these plants which were uninspiring at the time, but they undergo a transformation as the fruit ripens- comparable to decorating a Christmas tree- and become beautiful. These plants have ½” diameter fruit and reddish-purple fall foliage. The fruit doesn’t hang on as well as in I. decidua, possibly because the long stalks make it more vulnerable. As far as I know, it is not available in the trade.
Ilex verticillata - Winterberry, Black-alder
This species occurs throughout the state in wet, swampy, acidic sites. Spring heads, seepage areas, stream banks, and ponds are all likely places. The plants are multi-stemmed occasionally forming thickets. The leaves are elliptical to broadly lanceolate with conspicuously sunken veins on the upper surface giving a wrinkled appearance. The leaves turn black and shed in fall thus one of the common names. This condition is short-lived and in no way detracts from the other fine qualities of this outstanding shrub. The red fruit is clustered on the branches and persists into winter and often spring. Though this species occurs naturally in wet areas, it is quite versatile in the landscape. Many fine cultivars of I. verticillata as well as I. verticillata x serrata (finetooth holly from the Orient) are available.
Ilex ambigua - Carolina holly
This species occurs throughout Alabama on xeric to moist, upland, well-drained, and often sandy sites. Ambigua is an appropriate epithet as the features used to distinguish this species (site, geography, leaf size, size and shape of fruit, and quantity, location, and form of hairiness) have been variously used to separate this taxon into several species, subspecies, or varieties. The taxonomy remains unsettled. As you might expect, leaf size varies; but leaf shape is consistently broadly elliptical-ovate with leaves widest at or below the middle. Leaf margins are serrate, and the twigs are purplish. The fruit is in clusters on short pedicels and is thin-skinned, translucent, deep red and juicy. This makes the fruit more perishable, and it usually only lasts into late fall. The growth form of plants in shade is layered and elegant, similar to dogwood or Stewartia, and is very appealing. Fall foliage is a pale, clear yellow. Excellent drainage is essential for survival and growth.
Ilex montana - Mountain holly
Mountain holly is most similar to I. ambigua but has larger leaves with more attenuate (long-tapering) apices. The larger veins of upper leaf surfaces are sunken. Mountain holly occurs in rich, moist mountain sites and can attain tree stature (10” dia./40’ height). In Alabama it occurs sporadically in the northern portion. Those that had the opportunity to attend the North Carolina trip last summer had the chance to observe many fine specimens of this species.
Ilex amelanchier - Serviceberry holly, Sarvis holly
This species occurs in the coastal plain on stream banks; and in sloughs, swamps, and ponds. At many locations where I’ve seen I. amelanchier, I. verticillata was nearby (indicating similarities in site preference), but the converse is certainly not true as I. amelanchier is considered rare throughout its range. It is usually a single-stemmed plant that can reach a height of 30 feet with light grayish bark and a slightly swollen base, the trunk not unlike that of a tupelo sapling. The name refers to the apparent similarity in appearance of the leaves of I. amelanchier to those of serviceberry, Amelanchier spp. The leaves are dull green above, lighter below with distinctly raised whitish veins on the lower surface. Leaf margins are entire to finely serrate. The fruit is on moderately long pedicels and is an unusual color- a dull, velvety rosy red.
