Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

myrtle-leaf holly

Synonym(s):

Ilex myrtifolia

Genus species:

Ilex cassine var. myrtifolia

Family:

Aquifoliaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

6-25 ft.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

yellow,red

Phenology:

Evergreen shrub to small tree. Blooms in springs. Red to yellow fruits ripen in fall and persist into winter.

Noted For:

Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Good winter interest in a wetland setting. Would make a good wet-site hedge

Considerations:

It's dioecious; so make sure you have at least one male plant in the vicinity to produce berries on the females.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed, Friends

Propagation:

Softwood cuttings started in spring. Seeds of most holly species require 2-3 years of dormancy before they will germinate.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Usually moist, occasional inundation

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds

Bees pollinate flowers. 

Fruits are eaten by birds.

Native Habitats:

Wet-moist sites. Typically found in shallow wetland areas.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Not frequently cultivated, but worthy of consideration in appropriate sites for its long-lasting colorful fruits.  Fruits can be red or yellow.