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Foster's holly Aquifoliaceae Ilex xattenuata Ashe [cassine x opaca] Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: ILAT
Leaf: Alternate, evergreen, simple, thickened, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, upper half of leaf with shallow marginal spines, dark shiny green above, lighter below.
Flower: Species is dioecious; small (1/4 to 1/3 inch across), but attractive, 4-petaled white flowers with yellow-green centers, occur singly but very numerous, appearing in late spring.
Fruit: Bright red, round drupe, 1/4 inch in diameter, persistent, numerous, and very attractive.
Twig: Slender, greenish red, very small buds, leaf scar with 1 bundle scar.
Bark: Smooth, gray, mottled or faintly striped.
Form: A small tree reaching up to 25 feet tall, narrow pyramidal crown.
 Looks like: Chinese holly - American holly

Foster's holly leaf image
Foster's holly flower image
Foster's holly fruit image
Foster's holly twig image
Foster's holly bark image
Foster's holly form image
Foster's holly map image

Additional Range Information: Ilex xattenuata is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and is not known to widely escape cultivaton. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information