check that you plant your holly in the spring for optimal results from this winter favorite.
In other words, there is probably a holly in this diverse plant group that suits your landscape.
Where to Plant Holly
Most hollies like full sun to partial shade.
Credit: Denny Schrock
If grown in more alkaline-based soils, holly foliage may turn yellow, and the shrub may struggle.
Holly provides year-round interest whileserving as part of a hedgeor perennial border, or in foundation plantings.
Evergreen varieties take center stage in winter when they anchor leafless garden beds.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Tall evergreen hollies are good for creating a dense hedge or screen.
When used as barrier plants, holly varieties with spiny leaves are nearly impenetrable.
You will want the top of the root ball level with or slightly above the soil line.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Place the plant and fill the hole with soil.
As you work, wet the soil, and tamp it down to remove air pockets.
Add a 2 to 3-inch layer of organic mulch over the roots to help the soil retain even moisture.
Credit: Doug Hetherington
For larger tree-like holly plants, allow as much as 25 feet of space between plants.
Male vs.
If you dont have labels to rely on, look at the flowers that appear in spring.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
Male holly flowers have more prominent stamens than female flowers.
The female holly flowers feature a swollen base or bump that contains the eggs.
Once pollinated, these bumps will become berries.
Credit: Denny Schrock
If you see a hollyplant with berries, it is most likely a female.
Holly Care Tips
Once planted and established, holly is a fairly low-maintenance shrub.
Light
Read plant tags carefully when selecting a planting site for holly.
Credit: Dency Kane
Some holliesprefer full sun, while other varieties prefer partial shade.
If uncertain, choose an area with at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
In very hot climates, look for areas with shade from the harsh afternoon sun.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Holly bushes need consistently moistbut not waterloggedsoil when acclimating for the first year.
After the first year, they are more drought tolerant but will still thrive best with moderately moist soil.
Temperature and Humidity
Like the light requirements, temperature and humidity tolerances vary throughout theIlexgenus.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
In the hottest temperatures of the warmest climates, your American holly foliage may droop but recover.
For the amount to use, consult the product label directions.
Late spring is a good time to tackle this task.
In general, wait until dormancy for most hollies.
There is no single right answer.
Holly plants are also prone to issues with fungal rot, tar spot, and cankers.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Holly seeds are typically too low in viability to be a reliable source for propagation.
Cut it just below a bud union with sharp pruning shears.
Secure the stem by tamping the soil down.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Mist the foliage daily and keep the soil evenly moist, but not saturated.
Keep it in a spot with bright, indirect light to continue growing.
‘Blue Boy’ Holly
Ilexxmeservae’Blue Boy' has deeply-hued foliage and stems.
It’s extra hardy.
Plant this hybrid variety next to female hollies as a pollenizer.
It grows 6 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide.
Plant ‘Blue Boy’ nearby as a pollenizer.
‘Jersey Delight’ Holly
Ilex opaca’Jersey Delight' is a female variety with bright red fruits.
Plant with ‘Jersey Knight’ for fruit set.
It grows 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide.
It grows to approximately 8 feet tall and wide.
Unlike most hollies that prefer loamy soil, winterberry also tolerates boggy soil.
The plant tolerates a wide variety of soils, though it does best in moist, well-drained ground.
It can grow 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
It tolerates wet soil well and is a top hedge variety.
Or, if your holly shrub is already large, choose plants that are okay living in its shadow.
If you do, you will be rewarded with a sea of cheerful blue or purple blooms.
Periwinkle is hardy in Zones 4-9.
Lobelia
Annuallobeliabrings pretty blooms to the cool weather of spring and fall.
Lobelia is hardy in Zones 2-11.
Cotoneaster
Cotoneasterwould make a great low-growing shrub to add around tall holly shrubs.
In the spring, it is covered in small blossoms of white and pink followed by bright fall berries.
It prefers well-draining soil and is hardy in Zones 4-7.
It prefers similarly acidic soil and can even provide your holly with shelter from harsh winds and sunlight.
They also like moist, loamy soils and wont mind the shade your holly shrub provides.
Blue leaf hostas prefer dappled to full shade and are hardy in Zones 3-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a few reasons why a holly plant might not be producing berries.
The first (and most likely) reason is that it is a male plant.
Male plants produce flowers and pollen, but no fruit.
Lastly, it could be the growing conditions.
If your holly plant is not getting enough sunlight, it may reduceor eliminate blooming.
Holly plants are slow-growing and may take as long as a decade to reach full height.
Given the right conditions, however, a holly plant can live as long as 100 years or more.
Holly has been associated with winter celebrations since pre-Christian times.
It was used to honor Saturn, the god of agriculture during their Saturnalia festivities.
Holiday plants with toxic misconceptions.The Western Journal of Emergency Medicine.
