Holly
Description/Overview: Holly Wood (Ilex opaca) is a luxurious wood species, prized for its fine, even grain and creamy, pale color. Its hard, heavy, and dense texture, with a Janka hardness rating of 1,020 lbf, makes it an ideal choice for crafting contemporary, modern, and luxury built humidors. Holly Wood is also popular for its excellent bending and turning properties, making it a favored choice for carving and inlay work, adding a touch of elegance to any woodworking project.
Origin: Eastern United States
Names: Ilex opaca, American Holly, White Holly, and Christmas Holly
Color: Known for its white to ivory colors
Properties: Prized for its fine texture and a uniform, straight grain pattern. Holly is also known for its lack of pores, making it ideal for use in applications where a smooth surface is desirable.
Additional Info: In addition to its use in fine woodworking, Holly Wood is also valued for its association with Christmas and winter holidays. The bright red berries of the female Holly tree are a traditional decoration during the festive season. Holly Wood is also known by several other names, including American Holly, White Holly, and Christmas Holly.
- The bright red berries on female holly trees are not edible for humans, but they are an important food source for many bird species.
- The leaves of the Holly tree are often used in tea to treat fever and respiratory ailments.
- The famous British Christmas carol "The Holly and the Ivy" references the holly tree's association with the holiday season.
- The scientific name for holly, Ilex, comes from the Latin word ilex, meaning "holm oak," a similar-looking tree species in Europe.
