|
POSSUMHAW
Ilex decidua
(EYE-leks dee-SID-yoo-uh)
Deciduous Yaupon, Deciduous Holly, Meadow Holly,
Prairie Holly, Welk Holly, Bearberry, Winterberry
| Family |
Aquifoliaceae |
| Description |
This ornamental Texas Superstar is a native, deciduous shrub or small tree prized for its showy fruit |
| Plant habit |
Medium shrub to small tree with an irregular, spreading and open crown |
| Landscape use |
Plant as a specimen tree, or group for visual impact (fall berries)
Ideal planted along edges of woodlands or naturalized borders
Low maintenance |
| Average mature size |
15’ tall x 10’ wide (species can vary widely) |
| Growth rate |
Moderate |
| Sun exposure |
Sun to part sun/shade
Fruits best with at least six hours of sun |
| Soil requirements |
Adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions |
| Water requirements |
Low; drought tolerant once established
Easy to grow in any soil, even with poor drainage |
| Heat tolerance |
Moderate |
| Foliage |
Deciduous
At first frost the leaves yellow and drop |
| Flowers |
Dioecious: flowers on separate male and female plants |
| Blooming period |
Spring |
| Fruit characteristics |
Fruits only on female plant (look for plants with berries at the nursery)
Plant male species to ensure pollination (1 male: 9 female)
Red-orange drupes persist through winter (color depends on variety), providing visual interest; wildlife food source |
| Bark |
Attractive, scaly |
| Pests and disease |
None serious |
| Other |
Earth Kind plant: tolerates infrequent watering, poor soils, and is relatively pest and disease free
This plant gets its name due to its confusion with hawthorn and its attraction to possums
Monterrey oaks are often found as a hybrid with bur oak, chinkipin oak, and red oak parentage, which are more susceptible to disease |
“If I had my way, I’d want every gardener in the south to enjoy the winter beauty of
Possumhaw.”
- Sally Waskowski, Gardening With Native Plants of the South.
|
Gardening Resources