Difficult to transplant when large. Roots and dense shade complicate underplanting, but roots are fine enough as to be only rarely invasive. Males are more floriferous and more fragrant. Fruit is poisonous.
Clay tolerance is debated (NCSU and Missouri BG vs. JerseyYards.org and the USDA). Native to woodlands of the piedmont and coastal plain; not as tolerant of alkaline and/or wet soils as I. vomitoria (yaupon).
'Clarendon' is a shrubby form; 'Maryland Dwarf' is even more so and very spreading, and along with the species, has won the PHS Gold Medal Award. 'Croonenburg' may be monoecious and therefore not need a separate pollinator, but the leaves are less spiny. 'Howard' is nearly spineless.
I. × attenuata, the topal holly, a hybrid of this holly and I. cassine (dahoon holly, another native), is estimated to grow 2-3 times as fast. Sunset does not recommend topal holly north of zone 32, but at least Dirr, Dirr/Warren, Missouri BG, NCSU, and (at least for 'Savannah' and 'Foster's #2') UFL all claim USDA zone 6 tolerance.
Sources: Dove/Woolridge, Sunset, NCSU, UFL, JerseyYards.org, Missouri BG, UConn, AHS, Dirr, USDA, Bir, Dirr/Warren.
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