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Northington, David K.

Ilex decidua Walt.

Possumhaw, Possumhaw Holly, Deciduous Holly, Winterberry

Aquifoliaceae (Holly Family)

Synonyms: Ilex curtissii, Ilex decidua var. curtissii

USDA Symbol: ILDE

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Deciduous holly or possum haw is a small, deciduous tree or shrub,15-30 ft. tall, with pale gray, twiggy, horizontal branches. Glossy, oval, toothed leaves remain dark green through autumn, finally turning yellow. Inconspicuous flowers precede clusters of persistant, red berries on female trees which provide winter color.

Possum Haw is conspicuous in winter, with its many, small, red berries along leafless, slender, gray twigs. Opossums, raccoons, other mammals, songbirds, and gamebirds eat the fruit of this and related species.

 

From the Image Gallery

View herbarium specimen from Harry T. Cliffe Bexar Regional Herbarium.

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Leaf Shape: Obovate
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Crenate
Breeding System: Dioecious
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: 15-30
Leaf Color: Green above, paler below
Fruit Color: Red, Orange

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MS , MO , NC , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA , DC
Native Distribution: VA to s. IL & s. MO, s. to FL Panhandle & c. TX
Native Habitat: Low, wet woods; coastal plains; river bottoms
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist sands, loams or clays. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Caliche type
Conditions Comments: Deciduous holly or possum haw is a small, deciduous tree or shrub with pale gray, twiggy, horizontal branches. Glossy, oval, toothed leaves remain dark green through autumn, finally turning yellow. Inconspicuous flowers precede clusters of persistant, red berries on female trees which provide winter color.
Texas comments: Possumhaw is a small, deciduous tree or shrub with pale gray, twiggy, horizontal branches. Inconspicuous flowers precede clusters of persistant, red berries on female trees which provide winter color. It makes a good understory tree.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Understory tree, Fruits ornamental, Accent tree or shrub
Use Wildlife: Berries attract songbirds. Fruit-mammals, Fruit-birds, Nesting site, Nectar-insects
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: Moderate

Propagation

Description: Seeds germinate best if planted immediately after collection. They may be pretreated with double-stratification but the essential element seems to be time. Once internal conditions in the seed are right (it may take years), it will germinate in warm moi
Seed Treatment: Some benefit may be obtained from 30-60 days treatment at 68-86 degrees followed by 60-90 days of 41 degrees.
Commercially Avail: yes
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PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Ilex decidua (Possumhaw) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Lonicera maackii (Amur honeysuckle)
   Lonicera morrowii (Morrow's honeysuckle)
   Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle)
   Lonicera xylosteum (dwarf honeysuckle)

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: We live in Kempner Texas, our land has mostly cedar trees. We would like to make a wildlife habitat on the back side of our property. Can you recommend plants that will grow in shade to partial sun, compatible with cedar and wildlife friendly? Also we want a good shade tree for our front.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: Hello, we live west of Ft Worth. We are looking for tall plants to form a visual screen along a chain link fence we share with a neighbor. We have post oaks there and it is very shady and the ground is sandy and sloping. Our neighbor has planted eleagnus along her side but it is only a few feet tall. The fence line is about 100 feet long and we would like a variety of native plants 6 to 10 foot tall. Can you suggest anything?
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: I have an area in my front yard that has a drainage ditch running through it. When it rains, that area stays very wet. What kind of plants available for sale will work in this situation?
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge - Wimberley, TX
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski and Wasowski
Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Ilex decidua in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ilex decidua in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ilex decidua

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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