Table of Contents
Types of Holly and Holly Bushes Altaclere Holly (Ilex x altaclerensis) American Holly (Ilex opaca) Blue Holly (Ilex x meserveae) Carolina Holly (Ilex ambigua) Catberry (Ilex mucronata) Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta) Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine) English Holly (Ilex aquifolium).
What kind of holly bush do I have?
The best way to identify holly trees and bushes is by looking at the leaves and berries. Individual species of hollies have distinctive glossy leaves with wavy margins and jaggy spines, small blunt points, or smooth edges.
Do all holly bushes have prickly leaves?
With shiny evergreen leaves and bright red berries, holly trees are a naturally festive decoration seen throughout the Christmas season. They’re famously sharp. But not all holly leaves are prickly, even on the same tree. Hollies, like other plants, can make different types of leaves at the same time.
What are two best known hollies?
Here are 18 of the most common types of holly plants. 01 of 18. American Holly (Ilex opaca) 02 of 18. Carolina Holly (Ilex ambigua) 03 of 18. Catberry (Ilex mucronata) 04 of 18. Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta) 05 of 18. Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) 06 of 18. Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine) 07 of 18. 08 of 18.
How do I identify my American holly?
Look at the color of the leaves. English holly has a deep green color and glossy finish. American holly leaves are a lighter, yellow-green with a dull sheen. Variegated leaves, ever popular during the holidays, indicate English holly.
What is the fastest growing holly tree?
What is the Fastest Growing Holly? The fastest growing holly tree is the Nellie Stevens holly. As mentioned, the Nellie Stevens Holly grows about 3 feet per year. Compared to the American Holly and the Dragon Lady Holly, which both usually only grow a few inches each year, the Nellie Stevens holly grows very quickly.
When should holly bushes be trimmed?
So for best outcome and to ensure your hollies aren’t unduly stressed, wait until late winter or early spring — just as the plant breaks dormancy — before you do any major downsizing. By waiting till your hollies are about to begin active growth, you’ll also avoid several months of a skeleton appearance.
Are there dwarf holly bushes?
They come in many forms, from large trees to dwarf shrubs, and are drought tolerant once established. For smaller spaces and even containers, consider a dwarf holly. These smaller shrubs can also be used as hedges and foundation plantings, and there is a dwarf holly for all areas of Florida.
Do you need 2 holly bushes to get berries?
Hollies are dioecious, meaning that they need male and female plants in order to produce seeds, which are what berries are. So only female holly bushes will have the red berries. This means that if some of your holly bushes do not have berries, they may be male and simply cannot produce berries.
Where is the best place to plant a holly tree?
The best location for planting holly bushes is in well-drained but not dry, slightly acidic soil in full sun. That being said, most hollies are very tolerant of less than ideal locations and will grow well in part shade or dry or swampy soil.
Do hollies bloom?
Holly plants bloom in spring to early summer, depending on climate. The flowers can be small, inconspicuous, short-lived, and easily missed. These flowers are generally white when open, but can have greenish, yellowish, or pinkish hues. Male flowers form in tight clusters and have yellow stamens in their centers.
Is Nellie Stevens Holly prickly?
Both prickly and dense, it’s a security barrier and privacy screen. Produces berries if provided a male Chinese Holly. Water regularly – weekly, or more often in extreme heat. Easily grown in organically rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soil, but highly adaptable; avoid heavy, wet soils.
Why is holly spikey?
We are all used to seeing holly used as a Christmas decoration – but why are only some of its leaves prickly? This correlated with the grazing patterns of herbivores, including deer and goats, to show a significant relationship between recent feeding and the growth of prickly leaves.
Does holly have spikes?
Scientists have discovered what makes holly prickly and what makes leaves smooth. Researchers found leaves are much more prickly lower down the tree where herbivores can reach, suggesting the spines have evolved to protect the species.
What is a Savannah holly?
‘Savannah’ Holly is a female evergreen small tree that grows up to 30 feet tall and 8 feet wide as it matures with a rapid growth rate. This tree has known pest problems and is mildly resistant to damage by deer. The ‘Savannah’ Holly grows best in acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.
What can you plant in front of a holly bush?
A few common holly companions for planting next to the shrubs include boxwood, viburnum, clematis, hydrangea, and rhododendrons.
How far apart do you plant male and female holly bushes?
You’ll want to plant 1 male for every 5 to 10 females. Plant the male holly within 50 feet of the female holly. So whether you’re decorating for the holiday or adding winter interest to your garden, holly, with its happy red berries, add ornamentation to any area of your home.
What does American holly look like?
American holly is the familiar Christmas holly with glossy green, spiny leaves, and bright red berries. Native to the bottomlands and swampy margin areas of the eastern and central U.S., this tree forms a pyramidal shape and can grow to notable size in the wild.
What does English holly look like?
Holly is a large, slow growing evergreen, usually found as a shrub or small tree. It has woody stems and its leaves are 2-5 inches long and 1-3 inches wide. The oval, shiny leaves are dark green on the surface, lighter green underneath, and young leaves have three to five sharp spines on each side.
