Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

scrub holly

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Ilex opaca var. arenicola

Family:

Aquifoliaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

12-20 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms in spring. Fruits ripen in fall and persist into winter.

Noted For:

Showy Fruits, Thorns, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant. Slow growing.

Considerations:

Leaves have sharp spines. 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 propagated from seed, but slow to germinate.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

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:

acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

9A,9B,10A

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds, Mammals

Pollinated by bees.  Documented bee species include  Augochloropsis sumptuosa, Megachilepetulans and Xylocopa virginica krombeini (Deyrup et al. 2002). 

Fruits principally eaten by birds.

Native Habitats:

Scrub.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

The wood is pale, tough, close-grained, takes a good polish, and is used for handles, engraving blocks, and cabinet work. It can also be dyed and used as a substitute for ebony.

General Comments: