Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Grass
  
Origin
United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
  
Japan
  
Types
Ilex opaca laxiflora,Ilex opaca opaca
  
Not Available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Coastal sand dunes, moist forests, Swamps
  
meadows, Riverbanks, Wet Woods
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-9
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
9 - 5
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Pyramidal
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Blue Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Red
  
Purple
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Yellow, Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Orange, Yellow green, Orange Red
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green, Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval Spiny Leaves
  
Oblovate
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring
  
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Salt
  
Dry soil, Shallow soil
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
From Rhizomes
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Drought Tolerant
  
Keep ground moist
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Consistently
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Adequately
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune grass to maintain level, Prune if you want to improve plant shape
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
organic fertlizers
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Not Available
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Shade areas, Shallow soil, Wet Site
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Ants, Beetles, Caterpillar
  
Allergy
Mild Allergen
  
allergic conjunctivitis, Asthma, Rash
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing
  
Beautification, Ground Cover
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Provides ground cover, Shadow Tree
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Cold, epilepsy, Itching, Malaria, Pneumonia
  
Acne, Aging, Laxative
  
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
  
Leaves
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Used as a dyestuff, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in making tea
  
Can be made into a herbal tea, Showy Purposes
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Sometimes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Screening, Wind Break, Shade Trees
  
Container, Edging, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
ILEX opaca
  
HAKONECHLOA macra 'Aureola'
  
Common Name
Christmas Holly
  
Golden Japanese Forest Grass, Hakone Grass
  
In Hindi
American Holly
  
जापानी वन घास
  
In German
American Holly
  
Japanische gras
  
In French
American Holly
  
Forêt herbe japonaise
  
In Spanish
American Holly
  
forestales hierba japonesa
  
In Greek
American Holly
  
Ιαπωνικά γρασίδι δάσος
  
In Portuguese
American Holly
  
floresta grama japonês
  
In Polish
American Holly
  
Japoński las lato
  
In Latin
American Holly
  
Forest gramina Italica
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Angiosperms
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Monocots
  
Order
Celastrales
  
Poales
  
Family
Aquifoliaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Ilex
  
Hachanechloa
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Arundinariinae
  
Number of Species
Not Available