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Tree & Shrub Gallery

Miscellaneous Holly & Holly-like

     

Aquifoliaceae - Holly family
American Holly (White Holly) Ilex opaca
Tiny white flowers (no photo). Fruit is an elongated berry, green then red, sometimes yellow or orange (no photo). Leathery leaves have very sharp points.
Photos taken in Van Zandt County, Texas, November 2006
(Native of east Texas - near but not listed in Van Zandt)

Aquifoliaceae - Holly family
Yaupon Holly Ilex vomitoria
Multi stemmed, evergreen shrub that can be pruned. Some cultivated varieties up to 25 feet tall. Leaves are thick and brittle, scalloped edge, about 1/2"-1 1/2" long. No thorns. Old stems are woody, gray brown. Flowers grow on old growth stems, 1/4" wide, red fruit grows from center. The male and female flowers are on different plants.
(Native of Texas)

Specimen A

This 5 foot tall bush always produces copious flowers and 1/4" round bright red berries.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, October 2004

(Purchased, native of Texas)

Specimen B

This wild bush was transplanted from Smith County, Texas. It is about 4 foot tall. New stem growth is purplish-red, which is not noted in the references for Ilex vomitoria. Berries are glossy red, 1/8" wide.
Flower photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005
Fruit photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, October 2004
(Native of Texas, east & south - Smith)

           

                    

Berberidaceae - Barberry family
Agarita (Agrito, Algerita, etc.) Mahonia trifoliolata
This bush has holly-like leaves, very stiff prickly. Plant grows to about 10 feet tall. Leaves have 3 distinct parts. The semi-translucent, red berries are 1/4" wide and edible and can make jellies and wine. The seeds have been used as a coffee substitute. In the early spring, yellow flowers cover the plant. Nectar is good for bee honey.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2004, March 2007
Fruit photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2004
Flower photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, March 2005, March 2007
New growth photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, February 2007
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Coke)

I think this is a baby Agarita. The leaves were only about 1/2" wide and had not yet divided into three parts.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, March 2007

? family
? (some kind of Holly?) **zt 7** Scientific Name
Bush is about 10 feet tall. Leaves are about 4" long with prickly edges. I don't think it has ever had flowers or fruit. (This plant appeared after Japanese Honeysuckle was removed from a fence row.)
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2004
(Native of ?)