Using holly for winter decoration is a tradition that goes back at least 2,000 years to those ancient Britons called Druids. For them holly was a sacred plant in which woodland spirits took winter refuge. The Anglo-Saxon word "holly" is itself thought by some to be a corruption of "holy."
The more easy-going Romans celebrated their year-end Saturnalia in part by sending holly boughs with gifts to friends. And the Survey of London, published in 1598, notes that "...Every man's house, the parish churches, the corners to the streets, and the market places were decorated with holly at Christmas."
Thousands of different hollies are available, hence this article. It aims to direct you to the best hollies to grow for their winter show. To guide our selection process we worked with three holly experts: Gene K. Eisenbeiss of the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington D.C.; Fred C. Galle, former director of
Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia; and Robert L. Ticknor, North Willamette Research and Extension in Aurora, Oregon (retired). This list includes nine species (six evergreen and three deciduous), five hybrid groups (four evergreen and one deciduous) and 75 named varieties. Each one offers a unique combination of adaptation, size, leaf color or berry habit.
How to Grow Hollies
Hollies prefer neutral to slightly acid, well-drained soils that are fairly light and loamy to sandy in texture. Amend clay soils with compost or composted organic matter. Most prefer full sun but tolerate partial shade. All hollies are tolerant of air pollution and road salts.
In northern areas, the best time to plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped hollies is early spring, after soil is completely thawed but before new growth begins. Or, plant in fall once plants are dormant but before soil freezes. Make the planting hole at least twice as wide as the root ball and equally deep. Once you set the plant in place, the top of the root ball should be just above ground level.
In southern regions plant container-grown hollies anytime. Fall is best in the mild West; early spring in the humid Southeast. Holly roots are shallow so a light mulch to keep roots cool and moist is beneficial. Keep mulch six to 12 in. from the trunk to reduce mice and decay injuries.
Fertilize in spring to spur growth of fruit and foliage. Use one pound of 10-10-10 (or equivalent) fertilizer per inch of trunk for plants with trunks two to three in. in diameter. For smaller plants, apply one quarter the amount; for larger plants, triple it. Apply the fertilizer on top of the soil. Apply one third slightly inside the branch canopy; the remaining two thirds outside the dripline.
The best time to prune is in spring, just before new growth begins. Also, in December, as you cut boughs for indoors, make cuts with an eye to the plant's shape. (Cut branches last up to 14 days indoors.)
Most shrubby hollies grow naturally into an attractive shape. Taller, tree-like hollies, such as English and American hollies, are best trained into a pyramidal shape with a dominate central stem when they are young. Smaller-leaved hollies tolerate shearing. Best shape overall, and best berry production, comes with selective hand pruning.
Winter's Hollies Selection Guide
Most hollies are evergreen, and most are hardy to about 0 degree F (USDA zone 7). Deciduous hollies are hardier, generally to about -20 degrees F (zone 5). Although temperature limits are a useful guide, other factors, such as summer temperatures and rainfall patterns, also influence adaptability. Therefore, all the evergreen varieties listed here are noted as either "N" - northern, including the Plains and Midwestern states east of the Rocky Mountains; "S" - southern, including the Gulf Coast and upper South; or "W" - western, including the Pacific Northwest and West Coast.
All hollies are dioecious: The pistillate or berry-producing flower is on one plant and the staminate, pollen-bearing flower is on another. Only females produce the colorful berries and to do so require pollen from a male plant of the same species. Hybrids are pollinated by males of either parent species. A few female hollies produce some berries without pollen from a male plant. Birds feast on all holly berries but prefer red ones over other colors.
Evergreen hollies
Ilex x altaclarensis
English Holly Hybrids - N, S, W. Hardy to 0 degrees F.
Fast-growing, 10 to 20 ft. high and six to eight ft. wide. Leaves 2 1/2 to four in. long with wavy margins, sometimes spineless.
* 'Camelliifolia'. Leaves glossy, olive-green, 3 1/2 to five in. long, two in. wide with mostly spineless margins. Berries red.
* 'Wilsonii'. Leaves glossy green, to five inches long and 2 1/2 in. wide with numerous, evenly developed 1/4-inch-long spines. Berries medium size, red.
Ilex aquifolium
English Holly - N, S, W. Hardy to -10 degrees F.
A large tree to 50 ft. The classic holly, native throughout northern, southern and central Europe. Boughs are sold for holiday decoration. Leathery, glossy, dark green leaves are one to two in. long, often with wavy and spiny margins. Also known as Oregon holly.
* 'Angustifolia'. Narrow, pyramidal growth. Leaves narrow, spiny.
Berries small and bright red.
* 'Argenteo-marginata'. Grows to 25 feet. Leaf margins variegated silver. Berries red. 'Aureo-marginata' leaf margins are gold.
* 'Big Bull'. Male pollinizer for all English hollies.
* 'Ciliata Major'. Grows to 30 ft. Leaves glossy, dark green, spiny. Bark of young shoots purple. Berries red.
* Gold Coast ('Monvila'). Dwarf male pollinizer that grows six to eight ft. high. Leaves edged bright golden yellow.
* 'Little Bull'. Male pollinizer with small, glossy, shiny leaves.
Grows to 15 ft.
* 'San Gabriel'. Grows to 25 feet. Leaves glossy, dark green. Sets some red berries without male pollen.
* Sparkler ('Monler'). Robust and upright to 15 feet. Produces berries at young age.
Ilex x aquipernyi
English Holly Hybrids - W. Hardy to -5 degrees F.
Diminutive versions of English holly suited to smaller gardens. These will produce some berries without pollen from male plant.
* 'Brilliant'. Eight- to 15-ft. tree with conical shape and dense foliage. Leaves similar to English holly but with more twist to spines. Good specimen plant.
* 'San Jose'. Eight ft. high and four ft. wide. Leaves deep green. Berries bright red. Popular in West.
Ilex x attenuata
Topel Holly - S. Hardy to 0 degree F.
Loosely branched hybrids of dahoon holly (I. cassine) and American holly (I. opaca) with pyramidal habit and heavy fruiting. Height 20 to 30 ft. Leaves flat, 1 1/2 to four in. long, light green, with a single spine and smaller teeth at the tip. Dark red berries last until February or March. Similar in many respects to various forms of I. cassine. Primarily grown in the Southeast.
* 'East Palatka'. Leaves large and spineless. Berries large.
* 'Foster #2'. Leaves small and glossy green with spiny margin.
Shape is compact and pyramidal. Berry crop abundant. Usually sold as Foster's Holly.
* 'Greenleaf'. Leaves thin with small spines. Berries red, abundant.
* 'Savannah'. Vigorous growth to 50 ft. Leaves large, uniformly
spiny. Berries red. Hardy to 5 degree F.
Ilex cassine
Dahoon Holly - S. Hardy to 20 degree F.
Variable, loose-growing shrub or small tree that can reach 20 ft. but is normally half that. Leaves flat, leathery, dark green, long and narrow; three to four in. long, 1 1/2 in. wide.
Berries red or sometimes orange or yellow. Native of moist, acid soils along the coastal plain from Virginia to Florida and west to Louisiana.
* 'Lowei'. Berries yellow.
Ilex cornuta
Chinese Holly - N, S, W. Hardy to 0 degree F.
Compact shrubs or small trees. This group is highly variable, but usually leaves are shiny green, two to three in. long and one in. wide, rectangular shape, and with one or two spines on each side and one at the tip. Berries are proportionately large, about 1/4 to 3/8 in. in diameter, and on long stems; they last through winter. Male pollinizer not essential, but more berries will set if a male plant is nearby. Flowers come in very early spring so are subject to late spring frost. Smaller at maturity than English holly so more practical for many gardeners, this is one of the most widely planted hollies. Native of China and Korea.
* 'Anicet Delcambre' ('Needlepoint' and 'Willowleaf' are similar).
Grows 15 ft. high and wide. Leaves narrow, glossy, dark green, slightly twisted. Berries large, dark red.
* 'Berries Jubilee'. Grows slowly to four to six ft. high an wide. Berries red, very large and produced from early age.
* 'Burfordii'. Grows 15 ft. high, 10 ft. wide. Leaves, 11/4 in.
long, 3/4 in. wide, with one spine at tip. Berries large, bright red. 'Dwarf Burford' grows 10 ft. high in 40 years. Other named dwarf forms, such as 'Rotunda' (very spiny leaves, to six ft. high in 40 years), are available.
* 'Dazzler'. Grows upright, pyramidal shape to 10 ft., equally wide. Leaves very glossy green. Berries large, red.
Ilex hybrids China Boy and China Girl
N, S, W. Hardy to 0 degree F.
These are similar to and often listed with the Meserve hollies (I. x meserveae), but are complex hybrids involving other hollies.
* China Boy ('Mesdob'). Male pollinizer, or for landscape use. Grows eight to 10 ft. high, six to eight feet wide. Tolerates shearing. Leaves deep green and lustrous.
* China Girl ('Mesog'). Same as China Boy but with bright red berries.
Ilex hybrid 'Emily Bruner'
N, S. Hardy to 0 degree F.
Large, broad shrub to 20 ft. high. Leaves exceptionally large (to four in. long). Berries red. (A hybrid of I. Cornuta 'Burfordii' and I. latifolia.)
Ilex hybrid 'Nellie R. Stevens'
N, S. Hardy to 5 degree F.
Grows 18 to 20 ft. tall, 10 ft. wide. Pyramidal shape, gradually spreading over time. Leaves shiny green with two or three spines on each side. Berries red. Hybrid of I. cornuta and I. aquifolium. Berries showy, bright orange-red, very abundant.
Ilex hybrid 'September Gem'
N, S, W. Hardy to 0 degree F.
Small shrub to seven feet high. Berries ripen early, but are often consumed by migrating birds and are usually gone by Christmas. Often listed with I. x aquipernyi hybrids, this is a hybrid of I. x aquipernyi with a third species, I. ciliospinosa.
Ilex latifolia
Lusterleaf Holly - N, S. Hardy to 0 degree F.
Tree to 50 or more ft., but typically half that. Leaves large, four to six in. long, two to three inches wide, lustrous and dark green. Berries red, abundant, 1/4 to 3/8 in. in diameter, normally last through Christmas. Native of China and Japan.
Ilex x meserveae
Blue or Meserve Hollies - N. Hardy to -20 degree F.
The evergreen holly for northern regions. These are seven-ft., rounded shrubs. Branches spreading and upright. Leaves blue-green, spiny, 3/4 to two in. long. Hybrids of I. rugosa and I. aquifolium. Well-drained soil necessary. Used most frequently in the Northeast.
* Berry Magic. One plant each of 'Blue Boy' and 'Blue Girl' grown in the same container.
* Blue Angel. Dense, compact, slow growth. Leaves dark glossy green. Stems purple. Berries deep red.
* 'Blue Boy'. Male. Grows six to eight ft. high, three to six ft. wide.
* 'Blue Girl'. Same as 'Blue Boy' but with profusion of red berries.
* 'Blue Prince'. Male.
* 'Blue Princess'. Improved 'Blue Girl': more lustrous blue-green leaves and more abundant berries. A deep green Christmas holly.
* Blue Stallion ('Mesan'). Male. Similar to "Blue Prince" but with better branching.
* Ebony Magic. Grows in dense, pyramidal shape 12 to 15 ft. high, six to eight ft. wide. Prominent side branches colored deep blue-black. Leaves 2 1/2 to three in. long, 1 1/2 in. wide, dark green. Berries orange-red, 1/2 in. in diameter. Hardy to -10 degree F.
* Golden Girl ('Mesglog'). Berries yellow.
Ilex opaca
American Holly - N. Hardy to -10 degree F.
A tree to 50 or more ft. in height, pyramidal to rounded form. Leaves variable, from two to four in. long, 1 1/2 in. wide, dull to glossy green. Leaf margins may be flat or wavy, usually spiny but some nearly spineless (the latter are somewhat less hardy). Berries about 3/8 in. in diameter, usually bright red, but sometimes orange or yellow; they persist well into winter. Roots require good soil drainage. Flowers come late in spring, protecting young fruits from late spring frosts. Native to much of eastern North America from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania, south to Florida and west to Texas, Missouri and Indiana, usually in association with oaks and pines.
* Cheerful', 'Merry Christmas' and 'Old Heavy Berry'. Leaves dark green, lustrous. Berries red.
* 'Canary'. Berries profuse, yellow.
* 'Mamie Eisenhower'. Berries brilliant red.
* 'Princeton Gold'. Berries yellow-gold.
* 'Stewart's Silver Crown'. New growth pinkish. Leaves variegated light creamy yellow.
Ilex vomitoria
Yaupon - S. Hardy to 10 degree F.
Shrub or small tree to 25 feet with stiff, grayish branches. Glossy, spineless green leaves 1 1/2 in. long, 3/4 in. wide. Nearly translucent berries about 1/4 in. in diameter, usually red but may be yellow. North American native, from Florida to Texas and north to southern Virginia and northern Arkansas.
* 'Folsom's Weeping'. Small tree, pendulous outer branches. Leaves glossy green. Berries red, abundant, nearly translucent. 'Grey's Weeping' is similar.
* 'Grey's Littleleaf'. Male. Upright and compact growth to 18 ft. Very small leaves 3/4 in. long, 1/2 in. wide. Berries red.
* 'Jewel'. Horizontal branching habit. Berries red.
* 'Kathy Ann'. Berries red.
* 'Pride of Houston'. Branching habit erect, loose to 15 to 18 ft. Leaves nearly oval, lustrous, dark green. Berries red.
* 'Saratoga Gold'. Berries abundant, yellow.
* 'Wiggins Yellow'. Upright, spreading plant. Berries yellow.
* 'Will Fleming'. Extremely upright, to 12 ft. high, one ft. wide. Berries red.
Deciduous hollies
These are used primarily in the Northeast, but are becoming more important in the Midwest. All have waxy berries in various shades of red, orange and yellow. Berries cover leafless branches until consumed by birds, late December in most cases.
Ilex decidua
Possum Haw Holly - Hardy to -10 degree F.
The showiest of the native deciduous hollies, this plant develops into a large shrub or small tree approximately 25 ft. tall. Leaves are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 in. long, dark green, occasionally glossy. Berries form singly or in small clusters on short spurs; colors vary between bright orange to red. They persist well into winter, generally longer than those of I. verticillata.
Pollinated by I. opaca as well as by male of own species. All of the following are shrubs 15 to 18 ft. tall. Native of southeastern and central U.S.
*'Council Fire'. Leaves dark green. Berries red.
* 'Pocahontas'. Bark light gray. Berries large, red.
* 'Red Cascade'. Bark light gray. Leaves wide, glossy green. Berries persistent.
* 'Red Escort'. Male pollinizer.
* 'Warren Red'. Tall with cascading form. Leaves lustrous, dark green. Berries abundant.
Ilex serrata
Finetooth Holly - Hardy to -15 degree F.
Medium-size shrub, four to eight ft. tall. Branches and twigs show prominent pores known as "lenticels." Leaves 11/2 to three in. long, 3/4 in. wide with sharply toothed margins. Berries about 1/4 in. in diameter. Native of Japan and China where it is a favored bonsai subject.
* 'Sun Drops'. Outstanding yellow-berried variety.
Ilex serrata x verticillata
Winterberry Hybrids. Hardy to -15 degree F.
All varieties are good, though some show color earlier than others.
* 'Apollo'. Male.
* 'Bonfire'. Grows to 10 ft. Berries scarlet red, abundant.
* 'Harvest Red'. Grows to 12 feet. Berries dark red, persist well.
* 'Sparkleberry'. Introduced by U.S. National Arboretum in 1973. Grows to 12 ft. Leaves yellow in fall. Berries large, very persistent (until March), extremely heavy setting. Plant with 'Apollo'.
Ilex verticillata
Common Winterberry. Hardy to -30 degree F.
Large shrub to 12 ft. high and wide spreading. Leaves 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 in. long; margins toothed, fuzzy on bottoms near veins. Leaves rich green in summer, black after heavy freeze. Berries bright red; usually persist until Christmas, attracting many birds. Native to swampy, low woodland areas from Nova Scotia to western Ontario and Wisconsin, south to Florida, west to Missouri. Grows well in all garden soils.
* 'Afterglow'. Grows to 10 ft. Leaves green. Berries orange-red. Cold hardy.
* 'Bright Horizon'. Grows to six feet in 12 years. Berries red.
* 'Cacapon'. Grows to eight feet. Leaves dark green, crinkled. Berries dark red.
* 'Earlibright'. Grows to seven feet tall and four feet wide. Berries orange-red, early maturing.
* 'Red Sprite' (synonyms 'Nana' and 'Compacta'). Grows to five ft. Berries large, red.
* 'Shaver'. Berries notably large.
* 'Simpson'. Early-flowering male for pollination.
* 'Stop Light' (syn. 'Hopperton'). Berries large red.
* 'Sunset'. Grows six feet high, eight ft. wide. Berries abundant, orange-red.
* 'Winter Gold'. Yellow-fruited selection of 'Winter Red.
* 'Winter Red'. Old variety, the standard against which others are measured. Grows eight ft. tall. Leaves lustrous dark green. Red berries abundant, persistent.
For more information, contact the Holly Society of America, 11318 W. Murdock, Witehata, KS 67212-6609.
Michael MacCaskey is editor-in-chief of National Gardening magazine.
Copyright NGA
Reprinted with permission HouseNet, Inc.
Winter's Hollies
by Michael MacCaskey