Plant of the Week: American Holly

From Cyber Rain Blog
http://blog.cyber-rain.com/?p=530

In case you were curious




This seasonal favorite is not only welcome at holiday time, but is
great year-round addition to the garden! The American Holly is also
known as the Ilex Opaca,
is known for a number of things, including its “reputedly poisonous”
berries, and the shade it gives to birds and other small creatures.
The American Holly is beloved by many, perhaps mostly for its
reminder of the Christmas and New Years holidays. In Delaware, the
American Holly is loved year-round: it is the state flower!
According to the United States Department of Agriculture,
the American Holly is most common along the Eastern seaboard and
northeastern and southeastern regions, including Pennsylvania, Florida,
New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas,
Louisiana and Georgia. The USDA says that the holly “grows best on well
drained, sandy soils, but will tolerate those which are somewhat poorly
drained. This small tree has good shade tolerance, but does well in
direct sun… Establish American holly only where surrounding vegetation
or physical barriers protect the plants from harsh winds. Holly plants
prefer partial shade, with some full sun exposure during the day.”
..

The American Holly tree is considered a drought-tolerant “ornamental/shade tree” by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
The holly is native to eastern regions, including Florida,
Massachusetts and parts of Texas. The University of Massachusett’s
Landscape, Nursery & Urban Forestry Program characterize the
American Holly tree as one that “has been shown to be drought
tolerant.” The UMass program lists “drought tolerant plants for the
landscape,” of which they include the Holly, which is described as a
“broadleaf evergreen.“
Another academic institution, North Carolina State University,
also lists the American Holly as a “drought tolerant tree,” with the
caveat that “Drought tolerance does not mean the plants prefer hot, dry
weather or that they will not be adversely affected by extended dry
weather.” According to NC State, the American Holly can grow, on
average, to heights between 30 and 60 feet, and enjoys “sun and partial
shade.” (Though the USDA notes that the holly generally grows to
heights of 15-30 feet, with recorded heights of 100 feet.)
Before purchasing any major tree or plant, make sure to research the
individual needs. Some drought-tolerant plants still have certain
shading and sunlight needs. The principle of Xeriscape encourages
consumers to plant lower water-use or “native” plants, designed to
require less water than othe varieties. Coupled with the Cyber-Rain
smart sprinkler controller, consumers can save thousands of gallons of
water every year. This is not just relevant to Californians, but to
everyone, especially those living in states which are prone to drier
conditions and droughts.
And with its vibrant green leaves and brightly colored (red!)
berries, the American holly is just the plant to make a garden pop with
color… just don’t eat the berries!