Category: Aquifoliaceae

  • American Holly (Ilex opaca)

    Ilex opaca

    The main range of American Holly is to the south of Pittsburgh, but there are scattered populations here and there outside the range. One of those places is in Allegheny County, where we sometimes find American Holly in the woods. This bush was blooming in Bird Park in Mount Lebanon.

    Flowers of American Holly
    Holly berry

    Some of last year’s berries hold on into the flowering season.

    Flowers of Ilex opaca
    Photographed May 12 with a Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6.

    For Gray’s description of the species, see the Ilex opaca reference page.