Ilex mucronata aka Catberry

Ilex mucronata, or mountain holly, belongs to the holly family. Some sources list it as Nemopanthus mucronatus. It grows in eastern Canada and the north-central and northeastern United States. Its wild sites include damp woods, thickets, and swamps. This deciduous shrub reaches about 10 feet [3 metres] tall. It suits woodland gardens and partly shaded edges.

The thin bark is gray-brown, with a smooth or warty surface. Slender red-brown twigs bear scattered pale lenticels. The small buds have a rounded, dome-like shape. Leaves grow in an alternate pattern along the stems. They often cluster near the ends of branches. Each leaf has a wedge-shaped base and a short, pointed tip. Leaf shapes range from narrow to egg-shaped, sometimes wider above the middle. Their edges are smooth or finely toothed near the tip. The upper face is green and hairless; the underside is paler. Leaf stalks often show a purple tint.

Yellow to white flowers appear as the leaves open. Both male and female flowers grow on long stalks. Most plants bear only one sex of flower. Grow male and female plants together if seed is wanted. The round red fruits are drupes with a velvety surface. Each hangs from a long stalk, much like a cherry. They ripen in fall and can remain into winter. Their color adds interest late in the year.

Mountain holly grows in sun or partial shade. It prefers cool, damp soil but does not suit waterlogged ground. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. Its reported pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8. That source reports poor fruiting in Britain, with seeds needing a warm enough summer to ripen. It also warns that British stock has often been misnamed Ilex collina. Seed can take 18 months to sprout. Stored seed may need two winters with a summer between them.

Plants For A Future lists the fruit as edible but bitter. It gives the plant a low food-use rating and reports no known hazards. That statement does not establish safety for people or pets. The same source records past medicinal uses of roots and small branches. These include use as a diuretic and tonic, rather than proven treatments.