Differences between French Holly and Ilex

1. Leaf Difference

The leaves of French holly are leathery, elliptical, obovate or obovate, sometimes nearly round, about 7 to 20 cm long, with a short or gradually pointed apex, a broad cuneate base, vaguely nearly round, and irregular, shallowly wavy serrations on the edges of the leaves. The leaves are dark green and shiny above, and glabrous on both sides.

Holly leaves are simple, alternate and vaguely opposite. The leaves are leathery, papery or membranous, oblong, ovate, elliptical or lanceolate. The leaf surface is green and shiny, and the back is light green.

2. Flower Differences

The French holly panicle inflorescence grows at the terminal or on short lateral branches, 6 to 13.5 cm long and 4.5 to 6 cm wide, with a white corolla that later turns yellowish white.

Holly flowers are cymes or umbels, the inflorescences are solitary in the axils of the current year's branches, or clustered in the axils of the two-year-old branches. The flowers are small and white, pink or red.