Ilex myrtifolia Walter

Myrtle Leaf Holly; Myrtle Dahoon

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Myrtle Leaf Holly is a native evergreen shrub in the Holly family (Aquifoliaceae). It can be found in the southern third of Alabama. Myrtle Leaf Holly grows in pond cypress ponds, in flatwoods depression ponds, and around lime sink ponds. It usually grows around the higher margins of the pond that dry out at least during parts of the year, or perched in the bases of cypress or gum trees. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree reaching heights of 15-20 feet. The bark is gray and smooth or roughened by corky warts. Twigs are often perpendicular to the branches from which they originate and are very stiff. Young twigs are pubescent. Leaves are alternate, evergreen, petiolate, obovate or lanceolate in outline, with entire margins or occasionally with a few teeth. The leaves are thick in texture, glabrous, and dark green in color. Myrtle Leaf holly is dioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. The flowers are solitary and produced from the axils of the leaves. Flowers have four greenish-white petals. The fruit is a drupe. The drupes range in color from blood red through orange and rarely yellow. Myrtle Leaf Holly is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a moist, sandy soil in full sun.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL)

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