Mountain Holly is large shrub or small tree common in in deciduous forest understories in the Mountains and upper Piedmont of North Carolina.

Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.

Mountain Holly's deciduous leaves are larger than the other hollies in its range, such as Winterberry (Ilex verticillata). A similar species in the lower Piedmont and Coastal Plain is Carolina Holly (Ilex ambigua), but this has less toothed leaves, which are rounded at the tip instead of long-tapered, and smaller fruits.

Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.

Carroll Co., VA 5/22/2011.

Pistillate (female) flowers.

Carroll Co., VA 5/22/2011.

Staminate (male) flowers.

Carroll Co., VA 5/22/2011.

Orange Co., NC 10/17/2010.

Orange Co., NC 10/17/2010.

Orange Co., NC 10/17/2010.

The leaf undersides are usually smooth and somewhat shiny, with prominent veins.

Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.

This Mountain Holly has unusual leaves — white hairy beneath. This tree was growing on a ridge at Pilot Mountain adjacent to the smooth-leaved tree photographed above.

Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.

Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.

Flowers are tiny and white. These are staminate (male) flowers.

Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.

Staminate flowers.

Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.

The leaves are borne on short spur branches.

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/05.

The drupes are bright red and last through the winter, giving it another common name: Mountain Winterberry.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/05.

Bark of a small trunk.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/05.

Bark of a large trunk, with lichens.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/05.

Bark of a larger tree.

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.

Orange Co., NC 10/17/2010.