Mountain Holly

Scientific name

Ilex mucronata

Description

The Mountain Holly, also commonly referred to as the Catberry, is the only native Holly within Eastern North America. This species is a small to medium-sized, deciduous shrub that typically grows 3m, and grows erect with ascending branches. Mountain Holly bark is smooth and ash-gray, while its twigs are reddish-purple to purplish-brown. Leaves produced are simple, light green, and grow alternately along the branches. During the fall, leaves change to a deep yellow colour. During the spring, small, inconspicuous white to light green flowers bloom and give way to small red berries.

Planting conditions

Mountain Holly prefers moist to wet conditions and does best in a sand, loam, or clay soil with an acidic or neutral pH. It thrives in full sun to part sun. Mountain Holly can naturally be found growing in bogs, swamps, wet woods, thickets, and along shore lines,

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Moist
  • Wet
  • Flood Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Clay
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
  • Bareroot
• Eco Zone:
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 3m
• Spread:
  • 2 m