Holly (Ilex)

This genus, containing hundreds of species, hybrids, and varieties and grow on all continents except Australia, is not native to Oregon and is currently not fully described on this website.

In Oregon, the most commenly grown is English holly, Ilex aquifolium:

• Leaves: Short, thick and stiff, and evergreen, dark green color above and lighter underneath, with sharp spines along leaf edge.
  
• Fruit: Bright red berries, a popular food for wildlife which disperse this tree through Oregon habitats; male and female flowers occur on separate trees.

English and other hollies come in many shapes and sizes, including variegated forms with white or silver leaf margins, and even leaves without spines.

For more information on this tree, check here:

Dendrology at Virginia Tech: Searchable Fact Sheets

USDA Forest Service: Silvics of North American Tree Species