Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Origin
United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
  
Europe, Southern Europe, Turkey, Northern Africa
  
Types
Ilex opaca laxiflora,Ilex opaca opaca
  
Elegantissima boxwood, Latifolia Maculata boxwood
  
Habitat
Coastal sand dunes, moist forests, Swamps
  
Sandy areas, Temperate Regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-9
  
5-8
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
21,22
  
Habit
Pyramidal
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Yellow green
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Red
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Olive, Dark Green, Bronze
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval Spiny Leaves
  
Elliptic
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sandy
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Sandy
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring
  
Late Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Salt
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
Leaf Cutting, Stem Cutting, stem tip cuttings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Drought Tolerant
  
Do not water frequently
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut away fading foliage, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Compost, fertilize in growing season
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Mildew, Mites, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Caterpillar, Early/Late Blight, Mites, Spider Mites
  
Allergy
Mild Allergen
  
Eye irritation, Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Blackheads, Good Cleanser, Makes Hair Silkier
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Erosion control, Provides ground cover
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Cold, epilepsy, Itching, Malaria, Pneumonia
  
Dermatitis, epilepsy, Treating fever
  
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
  
Bark, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Used as a dyestuff, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in making tea
  
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used to make chess pieces
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Screening, Wind Break, Shade Trees
  
Bonsai, Edging, Espalier, Foundation, Hedges, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
ILEX opaca
  
Buxus sempervirens
  
Common Name
Christmas Holly
  
English boxwood
  
In Hindi
American Holly
  
European boxwood
  
In German
American Holly
  
Gewöhnlicher Buchsbaum
  
In French
American Holly
  
Buis commun
  
In Spanish
American Holly
  
boj común
  
In Greek
American Holly
  
European boxwood
  
In Portuguese
American Holly
  
Buxo
  
In Polish
American Holly
  
Bukszpan wieczniezielony
  
In Latin
American Holly
  
European boxwood
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Celastrales
  
Buxales
  
Family
Aquifoliaceae
  
Buxaceae
  
Genus
Ilex
  
Buxus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available