The Dahoon Holly is small evergreen tree or shrub that is native to the southeastern United States. It grows in swamps and mesic woodlands. It has an upright, pyramidal to irregular form and crooked branches. This holly is a good native plant to grow in wet areas and in areas that are prone to flooding. The trunk is crooked or leaning and it has smooth, light gray bark. The leaves are narrowly obovate or oblong and the margins are entire or they have a few teeth. Leaves are leathery, smooth, shiny and light green or bright green in color. Small, white, four-petalled flowers are produced in the spring. The flowers are followed by brilliant, bright red, berry-like fruits. The fruits are produced in abundance and they persist on the branches during the winter. The fruits are very colorful and are an important food source for a variety of birds and small mammals. This holly is one of the parents of a naturally occurring hybrid with the American Holly, Ilex opaca, known as Ilex x attenuata. The Savannah Holly and the East Palatka Holly are both cultivars of this hybrid. These cultivars are widely grown for their evergreen foliage and red fruits.