American Holly Seeds - 15 Native Evergreen Tree Seeds with Red Berries

American Holly (Ilex opaca) is a classic native evergreen tree prized for its glossy, spiny green leaves and bright red berries that persist into winter. This versatile tree adds year-round structure to the landscape and provides food and cover for birds and other wildlife. Its dense branching habit makes it an excellent choice for hedges, screens, specimen plantings, and woodland gardens.

American Holly is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. To produce the iconic red berries, a female tree requires a male pollinator nearby. The small, inconspicuous spring flowers are followed by berries on female plants in fall. This slow-growing, long-lived tree adapts to a range of soil types and is tolerant of urban conditions once established.

Plant Features

• Evergreen foliage with glossy, spiny green leaves
• Bright red berries on female plants in fall and winter
• Native to the eastern United States
• Provides food and cover for birds and wildlife
• Excellent for hedges, screens, and specimen plantings

Growing Information

• Botanical Name: Ilex opaca
• Plant Type: Evergreen tree
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, acidic to neutral soil
• Water Requirements: Moderate; keep soil moist but not waterlogged
• Growth Habit: Upright, pyramidal to rounded
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
• Bloom Season: Spring
• Mature Height: 15-30 feet (often smaller in cultivation)
• Spacing: 15-20 feet apart for specimen planting; closer for hedges

Planting & Care

To grow American Holly from seed, start by cleaning the seeds and stratifying them to break dormancy. A common method is cold moist stratification: mix seeds with moist peat moss or sand, place in a sealed bag or container, and refrigerate for 60-90 days. After stratification, sow seeds about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in a well-drained seed-starting mix. Keep the medium consistently moist but not soggy, and maintain a temperature around 65-75°F (18-24°C). Germination can be slow and uneven, often taking several months.

Once seedlings have developed several sets of true leaves, transplant them into individual pots and grow them on in a sheltered location. Harden off young plants gradually before planting outdoors in a prepared site with well-drained soil. Water regularly during the first growing season to help establish a deep root system. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but keep mulch away from the trunk. Prune lightly if desired to shape the tree, and ensure female plants have a male pollinator nearby for berry production.

What's Included

15 American Holly seeds.