possumhaw

Ilex decidua

Only female Possumhaw plants produce berries; they are deciduous hollies that drop their leaves to better display their fruit to foraging birds.

Scientific name: Ilex decidua
Taxonomy: Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Aquifoliales › Aquifoliaceae › Ilex
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: forest
Habitat: Bottomland forests, floodplains, stream banks, and moist upland woods.
Diet: Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Range: Central United States, Eastern United States, Northern Mexico
Size: 15-30 feet tall shrub or small tree
Lifespan: 30-50 years
Active: diurnal
Threats: Habitat fragmentation and competition from invasive species like Chinese Privet.
Safe to approach?: Harmless to touch and observe. The berries are mildly toxic to humans and pets; do not ingest as they cause vomiting and digestive upset. If consumed, seek advice from a medical professional or poison control.

Ilex decidua ( meadow holly , also called "possumhaw" , "deciduous holly" or "swamp holly" ) is a species of holly native to the United States.

Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist