Ilex mucronata
Mountain Holly
General
A beautiful native holly with bright red velvet fruits that provide food to wildlife. Ilex mucronata was previously thought to be in its own genus, and was called Nemopanthus mucronata, until genetic testing found high levels of similarity between this plant and other members of the Ilex genus. Surprisingly, though it is called "mountain holly", Ilex mucronata is an obligate wetland species, and is most commonly found on shores and in forested wetlands.
Plant Description
Growing between 5-10' tall, with bright velvet red berries. Fruit ripens in July or August, and may persist until as late as October. Flowers are tiny, white, and mostly inconspicuous. Leaves are oval to elliptical with entire edges. The bark is usually a dark brown, which provides a visual contrast with the brightly colored fruits and foliage.
Height (ft)
5-10
Spread (ft)
5
Soil moisture
Moist
Soil types
Variable
Wetland indicator
OBL
Shade tolerance
Tolerant (Full Sun to Partial Shade)
Bloom color
White or Green (Inconspicuous)
Bloom period
Late Spring
Fall conspicuous
Mildly
Drought tolerance
Low/None
Salinity tolerance
No
Self-Pollinating?
No
Range
Northeastern United States, from Maine to Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and along the Great Lakes through Michigan and Wisconsin to eastern Minnesota.