Ilex opaca 'Jersey Knight' (American holly)

Maryland DNR Recommended Tree and Deer-Resistant

The 'Jersey Knight' American holly is a male cultivar of American holly that is known to be a good pollinator for female cultivars. This broadleaf evergreen tree may reach 7-8' and be half as wide in the first ten years, eventually becoming grand in maturity, reaching 20–30' tall. Creamy white flowers bloom in May on these male trees. The evergreen leaves are leathery with spiny margins. They remain on the tree for two to three years, finally falling in spring when pushed off by growing buds. It is best to plant this tree in moist, well-drained soils, in an area that is protected from cold Winter winds and from hot afternoon sun. Leaves are frequently mined by larvae of the leaf-mining flies, however deer typically do not bother them. Holly berries are poisonous to dogs, cats, and humans.

The American holly is native to the eastern and south-central U.S., from coastal Massachusetts south to central Florida. It is typically an understory forest tree. Birds seek shelter from predators and storms in the tree's thick canopy. A wide variety of birds including thrushes, mockingbirds, catbirds, and thrashers, plus some mammals, eat the fruits. Host plant for various species of moths.

Photo by Missouri Botanical Garden