Mountain Holly Ilex montana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Ilex ambigua var. montana
- Ilex ambigua var. monticola
- Ilex amelanchier var. monticola
- Ilex monticola
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-leks mon-TAY-nah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Mountain Winterberry is a deciduous tree or shrub in the Holly family found mostly in the mountains of North Carolina, but also scattered in the Piedmont. It grows in mesic forests from New Jersey to Georgia, mostly at higher elevations. This holly has large and spinless leaves and larger fruit than most hollies. It is dioecious so a male and female plant is needed for fruit set For the plant to produce berries, the male and female plants must bloom at the same time. The red berries are a favorite of birds and small mammals. It is slow to reach maturity, but once established it tends to have a long lifespan. The leaves are dull green above, light green below with raised white veins on the lower surface.
Grow in average, moist, well-drained acidic soils in sun to partial shade. It can be grown as a shrub or a tree. Use for winter interest, naturalized areas and to attract pollinators and birds. It has some drought tolerance. The plant can be pruned to shape, but keep in mind that next year's blossoms and fruit will appear on new growth.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests of hollies.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ilex
- Species:
- montana
- Family:
- Aquifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi. Attracts pollinators and birds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer damage
- Edibility:
- Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/2 inch red berries on female plants; persists into winter. Displays from August to September. Slightly glaucous, may last through the following spring. You need both male and female plants to produce berries.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small greenish-white flowers in clusters in leaf axils. Blooms from April to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 4 to 6 inch alternate, simple leaf with shallow pointed teeth, elliptical to ovate, glabrous and green above, paler below. The prominent veins give the leaves a wrinkled look.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth but warty gray-brown bark. Often colonized by lichens.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Slender, gray-brown to red-brown, with scattered light lenticels, buds and leaf scars are small.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Pollution
