The American species of holly (Ilex opaca) has evergreen leaves. It grows naturally in the eastern and southeastern United States close to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, in the Mississippi Valley, and westward to Oklahoma and Missouri. It is best known for its bright red berries. The heartwood takes a high polish and is used for cabinet work and musical instruments; because it resembles ivory, it is sometimes used for keys for pianos and organs.

The English holly (I. aquifolium) is cultivated extensively in the extreme northwestern United States, but is not hardy in the northeastern states. Its spiny leaves are glossier than those of the American holly and have wavier margins.