Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

possum haw

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Ilex decidua

Family:

Aquifoliaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

20 ft tall by 10 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Understory tree in informal garden or woodland setting.

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

Propagation:

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

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

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

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds

Bees pollinate the flowers. 

Nuthatches, thrushes, orioles, jays, chickadees, titmice, cardinals, grosbeacks, woodpeckers, and warblers use the seeds.

Native Habitats:

Floodplains, upland hardwood forests, thickets.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Rarely grown but worthy of consideration as an understory tree.