possumhaw

Ilex decidua

Possumhaw is a lovely shrub that grows bright red berries in the fall. Birds love to eat these berries, making it a special plant in nature.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The possumhaw is a deciduous shrub or small tree with smooth, gray bark. It has small, inconspicuous white flowers in spring, followed by brilliant red to orange-red berries that persist on bare branches through winter, making it visually striking.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAquifolialesFamilyAquifoliaceaeGenusIlex

possumhaw

Interesting facts

Even though its berries are bright and tasty for birds, they can cause an upset tummy for humans if eaten!

Its name 'possumhaw' comes from opossums eating its berries, especially during winter months!

Possumhaw is a great 'winter interest' plant, making bare landscapes pop with its cheerful red berries!

This plant is sometimes called 'Deciduous Holly' because it loses its leaves, unlike most other hollies!

Special abilities

Possumhaw has roots that can handle both very wet and very dry soils, helping it survive tricky changing environments.

Possumhaw berries cling to branches all winter, providing crucial food for birds and other animals when other sources are scarce.

Measurements & details

Height: 300-500 cm
Spread: 200-400 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season: Spring
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

eats

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

eats its berries in winter

eats

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

feasts on its abundant winter berries

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar from its small spring flowers

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses the twigs and leaves

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Shrub

A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.

Fruit Bearing

Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Fall Color

Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.