Dahoon is a holly native to southern North America and the Caribbean. It is a small tree in the holly family (Aquifoliaceae) native to the moist woods of the coastal plains, typically found uncultivated in swamps and in rich moist soils. Occasionally it is also found on high sandy banks of pine barren streams. The species epithet is likely taken from an indigenous common name for this plant. Dahoon tolerates wet and shady sites and is moderately salt tolerant; however, it is not winter hardy and does not tolerate the cold. It will grow in full sun or partial shade and prefers a moist site and acidic soil. The plant does not do well when its roots are disturbed, so you should place the plants into their permanent positions and provide some winter protection for their first year or two. Flowers are produced on the current year's growth. The plant is very tolerant of pruning and can be cut right back to old wood if required. Dahoon is somewhat shrubby and dense with red berries and gray bark and while it grows up to 20 to 30 feet in the wild, it is usually smaller in the landscape. The foliage lacks the prominent spines or teeth of the American holly, and female plants produce colorful fruits in fall and winter. Like all hollies, dahoon is dioecious, so both male and female plants must be grown if fruits are required. It is pollinated by bees. It is a worthwhile and underused selection for the home landscape. It can be used in native gardens, winter gardens, or as a trimmed subject in an English garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Dahoon is relatively pest and disease-free. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests. More information on Ilex .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Erect; Open; Oval; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cuneate; Oblanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery; Smooth
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are alternate, simple, and narrowly oblanceolate. Leaves are usually entire, but can have a few, sharp teeth at the apex. They can be acute or rounded, cuneate, glabrous, and a medium green hue above and below. The underside of the wax-myrtle type leaves have no glands.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
Produces yellow-white, but insignificant, blossoms in spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry; Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Produces a fruit that has a globose berry-like drupe, is red-orange in color, and is very small in size (less than 1/10 of an inch). Occurs in clusters from fall through winter.
Bark color
Dark Gray; Light Gray; White
Bark detail
The bark of branches is smooth and pale gray or white, depending on the lichens growing on the bark.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Bahamas, Cuba, Puerto Rico
Distribution
Virginia to Florida and west to Texas.
Wildlife value
Winter food sources for birds and wildlife. Fruits are attractive to birds. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi.
Attracts
Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds; Specialized Bees