Wikipedia states: Distinguishing features of this species are crenate leaf margins and fruiting pedicels that are 2-8 mm long. Its "distinctive leaf shape... is less variable than other species of holly". Leaves are obovate, simple, alternating, deciduous, and grow to 2.5-7.5cm long. Drupe fruits are red (or rarely yellow), shiny, and globose (spherical, or nearly so), with a diameter of 4-8mm. The pulp is bitter; they contain 3-5 seeds and mature in autumn. Slender twigs are glabrous and silvery gray, with "numerous spur shoots", pointed lateral buds, and acuminate scales. Bark is "light brown to gray" in color and may be smooth or "warty and roughened". Distribution and ecology: Ilex decidua is a common plant,, growing in the US in Alabama, Arkansas, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. It grows in the northern Mexico states of Chihuahua and Coahuila. It prefers land in floodplains and the margins of swamps or lakes, and grows at elevations up to about 360m. The fruits attract songbirds. Deer browse on young twigs. Other plant species with which the possum haw is associated include "water tupelo, overcup oak, bald cypress, sycamore and hackberry". Because of the attractive "berries", the tree is used as a winter ornamental plant, and branches are collected for use as Christmas decorations. Small trees mean the wood is not useful commercially.

Grows as a shrub or small tree; light gray stems, shiny dark green leaves, fall color yellow; orange to scarlet quarter-inch fruits persisting until spring; native to southeast and south central U.S.