Ilex opaca aka American Holly

Ilex opaca, commonly known as American holly, is an evergreen tree native to the eastern and south-central United States. It can grow up to 30 meters tall with a trunk diameter of up to 120 centimeters. The bark is light gray and roughened by small warty lumps, while the branchlets are stout and green at first, later becoming smooth and brown. The leaves are alternate, stiff, and yellow-green with several sharp, spike-like points along the edges. The flowers are small and greenish-white, blooming in late spring in short pedunculate cymes from the axils of young leaves or scattered along the base of young branches. As a houseplant, American Holly is easy to grow and needs regular watering, as well as long-lasting, direct light. It prefers soil that retains moisture well and should be repotted each time it doubles in size. The plant belongs to the Ilex genus and is native to the Central and Eastern United States.