Deciduous Holly (Ilex decidua)
Interesting & key characteristics:
Height: 16 feet; spread 16 feet
Fruit: Bright, red orange berries
Leaves: Small, green, oval leaves that appear in the summer and turn yellow in autumn
Bark: Pale, gray, thin and almost twig-like branches
Flowers: It has white flowers with 4 petals that bloom before leaves come
Unique benefits (how it helps our planet):
It provides red berries as fruit for many birds and other animals. It’s a shrub, so it has lots of branches and twigs to make a nest in or burrow in.
Source: Missouri Conservation Trees and Shrubs
The Story Behind the Tree:
Mr. Schimmelpfinneg and Mrs. Torlina decided to plant the deciduous holly trees in the back of the Pre-K playground to replace the invasive bush honeysuckle plants. Unlike the bush honeysuckle, the deciduous holly trees were native plants. It quickly became one of his favorite small trees. After planting the tree, Mrs. Zareh assisted Mrs. Torlina in placing protective fencing around the trees.