When does Dahoon holly bloom?

Ilex cassine typically flowers in April and May, producing small clusters of blooms that give way to red berries later in the season.

What kind of light does Dahoon holly need?

Dahoon holly grows best in part sun but tolerates conditions from full sun to part shade, making it adaptable along woodland edges and open wetland margins.

How much water does Dahoon holly need?

This tree favors medium to consistently wet soil and is often found growing along pond edges, swamp margins, and seasonally flooded flatwoods.

What pollinators visit Dahoon holly flowers?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors to the small flowers of Ilex cassine, which they use as a nectar and pollen source in spring.

Is Dahoon toxic to livestock?

Dahoon is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (slight severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.

Is Dahoon HOA-friendly?

Dahoon is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Dahoon

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Ilex cassine

Last reviewed: September 2026

Ilex cassine (Dahoon) is an evergreen tree that blooms in April and May and produces red berries, thriving in wet, part sun sites across the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plain.

Toxicity unknown

Dahoon (Ilex cassine) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Dahoon is listed as toxic to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) at a slight level by the USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

360"–720" H × 180"–360" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, FL, GA, LA and 4 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Southeastern Plains Mississippi Alluvial Plain Southern Coastal Plain Southern Florida Coastal Plain

Dahoon is a medium-sized evergreen holly tree with glossy green leaves and small white flowers in spring. Female trees produce bright red berries that persist through winter, providing year-round visual interest.

Growing Dahoon

Grow Dahoon in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 360 to 720 inches tall and spread 180 to 360 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Dahoon is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

Spring flowers attract bees and beetles for pollination. The red berries are an important food source for songbirds during fall and winter months.

Common questions

When does Dahoon holly bloom?: Ilex cassine typically flowers in April and May, producing small clusters of blooms that give way to red berries later in the season.
What kind of light does Dahoon holly need?: Dahoon holly grows best in part sun but tolerates conditions from full sun to part shade, making it adaptable along woodland edges and open wetland margins.
How much water does Dahoon holly need?: This tree favors medium to consistently wet soil and is often found growing along pond edges, swamp margins, and seasonally flooded flatwoods.
What pollinators visit Dahoon holly flowers?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors to the small flowers of Ilex cassine, which they use as a nectar and pollen source in spring.
Is Dahoon toxic to livestock?: Dahoon is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (slight severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
Is Dahoon HOA-friendly?: Dahoon is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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