Plant guide
American holly
Ilex opaca
American holly is toxic to cats and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and unusual tiredness. Keep berries, foliage and holiday cuttings away from your cat; contact a veterinarian after suspected ingestion.
What this guide covers: Ilex opaca only. Confirm the botanical identity; a photograph alone cannot establish plant identity.
Photo:
Photo details
Ilex opaca — Leaves & Berries - November - Warren Co., NC
By Cathy DeWitt
License: CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
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Photo:
Photo details
Ilex opaca — Leaves & Berries - November - Warren Co., NC
By Cathy DeWitt
License: CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
American holly seeds
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Keep away from cats. We do not recommend this plant for a home where cats could reach it.
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Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Ilex opaca
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
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How to grow this plant
Ilex opaca only. Confirm the botanical identity; a photograph alone cannot establish plant identity.
- Light
- Sunny position or Some direct sun
Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot summers.
- Watering
Keep soil moist with drainage; avoid flooded sites.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
Shelter from drying winds; no indoor temperature interval assigned.
- Humidity
No specific humidity target established.
- Potting
- Acidic to neutral, well-drained soil; avoid limestone soils.
- Through the year
- Allow space for an outdoor tree. Female plants need a compatible male nearby for berries; berries are not a cat-safe feature.
Growing-guide sources
- Ilex opaca ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-16
Ilex opaca only. Confirm the botanical identity; a photograph alone cannot establish plant identity.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-16. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Severity
- Severity not established
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.