Possumhaw is a deciduous holly native to the Southeast and extending west to northwestern Mexico. It can be found on limestone glades and bluffs, along streams in wet woods, and in lowland valleys, sloughs and swamps. The specific epithet, Latin for “deciduous,” describes the leaves and the condition noteworthy in a genus known for its evergreen species. Possumhaw is broadly tolerant of a range of soil types. It can take full sun to partial shade. It tolerates occasional flooding or saturated soils. It is an upright shrub or small tree with a spreading, rounded crown that typically grows 7 to 15 feet tall in cultivation (to 30 feet in the wild). Its bark is gray-brown and smooth with occasional warts. The fruits attract birds, deer and a variety of small mammals (including opossums, as the common name suggests). Plants of this species are mostly dioecious (separate male and female plants), but some plants have perfect flowers (complete flowers with functioning stamens and pistils). For the best show of berries, plant female plants, with at least one male (pollinizer) plant to ensure that pollination will take place. Prune to shape in early spring just before new growth begins. Grow this species in a pollinator or wildlife garden or in a rain garden. It works especially well as a winter accent. Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: The possumhaw will occasionally incur problems that include leaf spots and powdery mildew. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests. More information on Ilex .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 7 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Horizontal; Rounded; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate
Leaf margin
Crenate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-3 inch long glossy, dark green, alternate, simple, obovate, narrow, crenate margined elliptic leaves that turn a dull purplish green to yellow in fall
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender
Flower color
Green; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The whitish flowers of both male and female Possumhaw holly are relatively inconspicuous. Pollinated female flowers give way to orange-red berries which ripen in September and persist throughout the winter until mid-March when new growth begins. Flower blooms from April to May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Pollinated female flowers give way to orange-red berries which ripen in September and persist throughout the winter.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Gray-brown and smooth with occasional warts.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
United States and Mexico
Distribution
Northwestern Mexico; TX through KS northeast to IL east to MD and south to FL.
Wildlife value
It is a host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly. Butterflies and other pollinators nectar at the blooms. Fruits are eaten by songbirds and small mammals. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.