By Bob Westerfield
University of Georgia

Georgia is blessed with a climate that allows a broad range of
ornamentals in the landscape. Perhaps no landscape plant is more
durable or comes in as many shapes and sizes as the holly.

Hollies come in more than 300 recognized varieties, with more
introduced each year. They belong to the genus Ilex, which is
native to every continent except Antarctica.

We usually think of hollies as small trees that give us Christmas
color with their red berries and green, spiny leaves. But many
hollies are nothing like that. They can range in height, for
instance, from 18 inches to more than 50 feet.

From the majestic, conical Nellie R. Stevens to the delicately
branched, low-growing Helleri, there is a holly out there for
everyone.

Durable, versatile, popular

Hollies are among the most durable and versatile plants in the
landscape, withstanding both drought and cold, which certainly
lends to their popularity.

Using plants with many textures and colors is an important
consideration when planning your landscape. And hollies can
provide outstanding color and texture contrast. Some have coarse
texture and dark green color, such as Burford holly. Others, like
Dwarf Yaupon holly, have a much finer texture and lighter color.

Landscape uses of hollies can vary almost as much as the
different shapes, sizes, textures and colors they come in.
They’re used as foundation plants and for screens, hedges, accent
plants, mass planting or specimen trees.

How big?

Consider the ultimate size and shape of the mature plant when you
select a holly. The 3-foot Fosteri holly at the nursery can grow
upwards of 40 feet and spread out to 20 feet.

Give each plant plenty of room to grow. Consider how the
landscape will look years from now, not just how it looks when
you plant.

Many hollies produce beautiful clusters of colorful berries in
the fall or winter. These aren’t only attractive but can provide
food for birds, too.

You may want to consider placing these plants where others can
see their showy display. Allow sunlight to hit the fruit to
provide an interesting contrast when you’re looking from inside
the house or from another vantage point.

You may want to select hollies that produce yellow or orange
berries in areas of lower light, so they will stand out better.

About those berries

About those berries — remember that hollies are either male or
female and only the females produce fruit. For pollination to
occur in some species, a male plant must be nearby.

If your neighbor next door has the same species holly and has a
male, it will most likely pollinate your plant. Bees provide some
pollination between different species, too, that flower at the
same time. Other hollies can set fruit on their own, without any
pollination.

If you’ve ever wondered why your holly has never had berries,
chances are that either you only have a male plant or you have a
female with no pollinator nearby. With the number of hollies in
landscapes today, this is rarely a problem unless you live way
out in the woods away from everyone.

Although hollies are extremely tough once they’re established,
they do have some requirements.

They prefer well-drained soil that’s amended with organic matter
and slightly acidic. Wet soils that are heavily compacted will
lead to weak plants.

Hollies respond well to mulching and light fertilization. While
many will grow in partial shade, most will produce a better berry
crop and thrive if given full sunlight.

(Bob Westerfield is an Extension Service horticulturist with
the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences.)