Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine)

Educational Story

The Dahoon holly, Ilex cassine, is a medium to small evergreen tree that can be found growing  in Mesic Flatwoods and wet locations like swamps. Like most hollies, it is dioecious, producing individual plants that are either male or female.  Leaves are smooth and shiny, and make an ideal hedge with attractive white flowers. The female plants produce brilliant, bright red berries in the winter, and are an important food source for migrating birds, squirrels and other small mammals.

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Gardening Facts

Scientific Name: Ilex cassine
Common Name: Dahoon Holly
Description of facts and concepts: A small to medium sized tree that has bright red berried on female plants and grows in mesic flatwoods or swamps.  Used for hedges or grown as a tree.
Seed or division information: Grown from seeds and cuttings.
Date of flower’s bloom (Month and week): Spring bloom, winter berry
Ecoregion: Low woods, swamps
Color of Flower: White flowers and bright red berries
Height: Up to 36 feet
Spread: 8-12 feet
Family: Aquifoliaceae (holly)
Soil Type: Base to Acidic Acidic
Soil: Dry to Wet Moist Soils
Light: Sun to Shade Full sun to partial shade
Zone 8B-11B