Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Deciduous Shrub, Ornamental Plants, Shrub
  
Origin
United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
  
Not Available
  
Types
Ilex opaca laxiflora,Ilex opaca opaca
  
Diana, Oiseau Bleu, Hamabo, Red Heart, Notwoodone, William R. Smith, Meehani, Woodbridge
  
Habitat
Coastal sand dunes, moist forests, Swamps
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-9
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
9 - 1
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
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
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Dark Pink, Light Pink, Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Red
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Green, Light Green, Yellow
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Yellow, Green, Pink
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Gold, Tan
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval Spiny Leaves
  
Ovate and toothed
  
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
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Salt
  
Drought, Variety of soil types
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
Stem Cutting, Tip cutting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Drought Tolerant
  
It cannot sustain wet-feet, Keep the Soil well drained, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water frequently while growing, Water more in summer, Water when soil is dry
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
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 leaves after fall, Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune in early summer, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Apply 10-10-10 amount, Balanced liquid fertilizer, Do not fertilize new plants until at least a month, Use a low phosphate fertilizer to improve the quality of the blooms
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Aphids, Mealybugs, Red spider mite, Scale, Thripes, Whiteflies
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Variety of soil types
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
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
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Mild Allergen
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing
  
Beautification, Borders, Landscape Designing
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Hair Conditioner, Not Available, Prevents greying of hair, Prevents Premature Baldness, Promotes Healthy Hair, Promotes healthy skin, Speed hair growth
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Cold, epilepsy, Itching, Malaria, Pneumonia
  
anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Hair Loss, High blood pressure, Vitamin C
  
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
  
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Used as a dyestuff, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in making tea
  
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for fragrance
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Screening, Wind Break, Shade Trees
  
Container, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
ILEX opaca
  
Hibiscus syriacus
  
Common Name
Christmas Holly
  
Syrian ketmia, Rose mallow, St Joseph's rod, Shrub Althea
  
In Hindi
American Holly
  
Rose of Sharon Hibiscus
  
In German
American Holly
  
Rose von Sharon Hibiscus
  
In French
American Holly
  
Rose de Sharon Hibiscus
  
In Spanish
American Holly
  
Rosa de Siria Hibiscus
  
In Greek
American Holly
  
Rose της Sharon Hibiscus
  
In Portuguese
American Holly
  
Rosa de Sharon Hibiscus
  
In Polish
American Holly
  
Rose of Sharon Hibiscus
  
In Latin
American Holly
  
Rose of Sharon Hibiscus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Celastrales
  
Malvales
  
Family
Aquifoliaceae
  
Malvaceae
  
Genus
Ilex
  
Hibiscus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Malveae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Malvoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available