Krug’s Holly
Ilex krugiana
Krug’s Holly or Tawnyberry is naturally found from Long Pine Key in Everglades Park to the Miami River following the Miami Rock Ridge. The leaves are around two inches long and elliptic. They turn black when dead, which is a good way to identify the plant. The white trunk is straight and may reach up to thirty feet tall. The branching is narrow which makes this a good tree for narrow spaces.
This is a very drought tolerant shrub or tree once established, yet it isn’t tolerant of salt air or salt water. Average soil is all that it needs, although good organic soil will produce a much more attractive plant.
The plants are male and female, so plant several near each other to ensure good bee pollination and lots of BB sizes berries. These turn from green to red to black and are very attractive to birds. A couple of berries may not cause harm but several may be poisonous, so keep these fruit out of the reach of small children. Always look up a plant to confirm if it is edible.
Krug’s Holly will look its best if allowed to grow naturally as a screen, specimen or when mixed with other understory shrubs. Try a combination of Tawnyberry with Florida Boxwood, Spanish Stopper, Marlberry, Myrsine, Myrtle of the River, Wild Coffee, Crabwood, Pineland Privet, Simpson Stopper and Tetrazygia bicolor.