Possumhaw Holly

Luxurious foliage, the native Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua) features glossy, oval and ornately toothed leaves remaining dark green through autumn, finally turning yellow before winter. These can be either deciduous shrubby trees or bushes depending on how you prune them.

Inconspicuous flowers on both male and female plants precede clusters of persistent red berries on the female plants. The flowers provide nectar for early pollinators and the berries provide winter color! Plant multiple Possumhaw together to ensure the best pollination and therefore the largest display of showy fruit.

Possumhaw goes by many common names depending on your region, but winter allows these deciduous Holly to reveal pale gray, twiggy, horizontal branching for snow to collect beautifully. Further showing off the many small, red berries along leafless, slender twigs. Wildlife and songbirds eat the fruit of this Ornamental native plant!

Planting and Application:

Sometimes spelled Possum Haw, this Holly is a beneficial caterpillar Host Plant for the Henry's Elfin butterfly larvae and several other moth species. These feed your birds and their hungry chicks! The songbirds also return to feast on the fruit. You'll love snipping a few stems for winter décor and floral arrangements, and the remaining berries for winter interest!

The glossy foliage are fantastic privacy hedges and screening shrubs, and can be pruned smaller as foundation plants. By planting multiples, you'll gain increased pollination and therefore, lots of showy fruit and food for birds!

Bird-Friendly shrubs or trees with pruning, you can create a multi-branched profile to suit your landscape needs. In nature, they can be found growing as a shorter, clumping shrub. Providing dense thickets for habitat, shelterbelts, windbreaks and cover for birds to nest and roost in.

• Glossy Deciduous Green Foliage
• White Spring Blossoms For Pollinators
• Red Showy Fruit on Female Plants For Birds, Winter Interest & Interior Decor
• Bird-Friendly Fruit & Shelter
• Hedges, Specimens, Shelterbelts, Privacy & Thickets

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Easy to grow, these native shrubs Holly need full sun and well-drained moist soil. Deciduous Holly bushes are adaptable and tolerate a wide range of environments! Mulch the root system well in colder USDA growing zones 5 to 9 and in drier conditions, and provide supplemental moisture during harsh conditions. Prune after flowering to control size and keep the shrubs tidier if desired. Deer seldom damage the native Possomhaw Holly shrub and find other things to nibble on unless they’re truly desperate!

• Full Sun & Part Shade
• Moderate Moisture & Well-Drained Soil
• Mulch Well in Dry & Hot Climates
• Prune After Flowering
• Not Often Bothered By Deer

The four-season interest and year-round wildlife appeal of the hardy native Possumhaw Holly will become your new favorite native plant this year, and for years to come! Order today at NatureHills.com!