Possumhaw features dark green, narrow, oblong leaves, with finely-toothed margins.  There is no appreciable fall color.  Stems and twigs are medium brown when young, maturing to a light grey.  A profusion of small, creamy flowers are produced in early spring.  As with many hollies, male and female flowers are produced on separate plants.  The female flowers, when pollinated, produce numerous small (<½”) berry-like fruits which mature to a bright red-orange.

In the landscape, the dense, twiggy nature of the plant allows it to serve as an effective screen, even in months when no foliage is present.  The lower branches can also be pruned to form a tidy small tree with a tight crown.  Due to its small stature and high tolerance for pruning, it is a versatile native useful in many landscape settings from border to hedgerow to specimen, and is especially well-suited to backyard gardens.  Possumhaw’s tolerance for moist (not saturated) soils also makes it an excellent choice to stabilize streambanks and bioswales.  The bright red-orange fruit provides winter interest in the garden and, after repeated freeze/thaw cycles, becomes attractive as a late-winter food source for many species of songbirds — and opossums (Didelphis virginiana) — as the common name implies.  Ilex decidua is also mostly pest-free in the landscape, with leaf spot and powdery mildew occasionally an issue in humid weather.  The young twigs can also be attractive to browsing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

Ilex decidua is offered by White House Natives in 3 ft to 6 ft sizes.  Order now for your  next project!