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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|familia=Aquifoliaceae
|genus=Ilex
|species=opaca
|common_name=American Holly
|poisonous=berries
|lifespan=perennial
|features=evergreen, foliage
|Temp Metric=°F
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Upload.png
|image=Ilex opaca USDA.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=240
|image_caption=Foliage and immature fruit
}}
}}
'''''Ilex opaca''''' ('''American Holly''') is a species of [[holly]], native to the eastern [[United States]], from coastal [[Massachusetts]] south to central [[Florida]], and west to southeastern [[Missouri]] and eastern [[Texas]].<ref name=usfs>U.S. Forest Service Silvics Manual: [http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/ilex/opaca.htm ''Ilex opaca'']</ref>
The European Holly does not grow in the climate of most of the United States, but the American Holly makes an excellent second choice for it closely resembles the European species. The leaves are similar in outline and toothed and bristled very much the same way, but they are a paler green and the surface gloss is duller than in the European species.<ref name=keeler />
It is often planted as an [[ornamental plant]], although a slow growing one. Over 1,000 [[cultivar]]s have been selected, including plants selected for cold tolerance ('Cobalt', a male cultivar, is able to tolerate temperatures as low as −32 °C), growth form (e.g. dwarf forms such as 'Cardinal Hedge', a female plant growing to 1.2 m tall), and color and abundance of fruit (notable female cultivars including the large-berried 'Yule', and the yellow-berried 'Canary' and 'Morgan Gold').<ref name=rhs>Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.</ref>
The species typically grows as an [[understory]] tree in forests. It is rare and small in the north of its range (parts of coastal New England to Cape Cod), while abundant and larger further south (S Arkansas and E Texas). The branches are short and slender. The [[root]]s are thick and fleshy. It will grow in both dry and swampy soil, but grows slowly.<ref name=usfs/><ref name=keeler>{{cite book | last =Keeler | first =H. L. | title =Our Native Trees and How to Identify Them | publisher =Charles Scriber's Sons | date =1900 | location =New York}}</ref>
The berries are reputedly [[poison]]ous to humans, but are important survival food for [[bird]]s.
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
Ilex opaca, Ait. (I. quercifolia, Meerb.). American Holly. Fig. 1947. Tree, with spreading short branches, sometimes to 50 ft., forming a narrow, pyramidal head, glabrous: lvs. oval or elliptic-lanceolate, with large remote spiny teeth, rarely entire, dull green above, yellowish green beneath, 2-4 in. long: fr. dull scarlet, usually solitary, globose. June. Mass, to Fla., west to Mo. and Texas. Em. 385. S.S. 1:45. Gng. 4:276, 277. F.E. 16:444, pi. 63; 20:402, pi. 14. Gn.M. 2:19; 4:237. V. 3:86; 12:79, 80.—Hardier than I. aquifolium, but less handsome. Ilex opaca var. xanthocarpa, Rehd. Frs. yellow.
Ilex opaca, Ait. (I. quercifolia, Meerb.). American Holly. Tree, with spreading short branches, sometimes to 50 ft., forming a narrow, pyramidal head, glabrous: lvs. oval or elliptic-lanceolate, with large remote spiny teeth, rarely entire, dull green above, yellowish green beneath, 2-4 in. long: fr. dull scarlet, usually solitary, globose. June. Mass, to Fla., west to Mo. and Texas.—Hardier than I. aquifolium, but less handsome. Ilex opaca var. xanthocarpa, Rehd. Frs. yellow.
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<gallery perrow=5>
File:IlexOpacaBark.jpg|Closeup of Bark
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