Holly (Ilex)

Hollies are attractive, versatile, and widely used evergreen shrubs. Some hollies have the classic, spiny leaf shape of those used in Christmas wreaths, while others more closely resemble boxwood. All hollies are excellent choices for hedges, screening, and foundation plantings. They provide year-long interest in the landscape, and their fruits will attract birds to your garden.

As a rule, hollies prefer a rich, slightly acid, well-drained soil. They will grow in sun or part shade, though they will produce more berries in full sun.

Blue Holly

(Ilex x meserveae)

The “blue” hollies are shrubby in habit and have leathery, glossy, dark green (almost blue-green) leaves in the classic holly shape. The female forms have showy red fruit. In order for the females to bear fruit, a compatible male plant needs to be growing within 50 feet. One male plant can pollinate several female plants. Ilex x meserveae varieties can grow 10’ or more if unpruned; with pruning they can be kept to 5’ or so. They grow well in full sun to moderate shade.

• Blue Maid
  Broad shape. Easily sheared to a pyramidal form. Large red berries. Needs a Blue Stallion or Blue Prince for pollination. Ht. 6-10’
• Blue Princess
  Broad and upright. Heavy-fruiting. Needs a Blue Stallion or Blue Prince for pollination. Ht. 6-10’
• Blue Prince
  Broad and upright. Good pollinator for Blue Princess, Blue Maid, and Dragon Lady. Ht. 6-10’
• Blue Stallion
  Vigorous, broad, and upright. Dark glossy foliage on purplish stems. Excellent pollinator for Blue Princess, Blue Main, and Dragon Lady. Ht. 8-10’
• Dragon Lady
  Narrow, upright, and columnar. Very spiny foliage. Produces large red berries. Needs a Blue Stallion or Blue Prince for pollination. Good vertical accent plant.
• Golden Girl
  Dense and pyramidal. Bears an abundance of large, bright yellow berries. Needs a Blue Stallion or Blue Prince for pollination. Ht. 6-10’
• China Girl
  Compact and rounded. Abundant large red berries. Needs a China Boy for pollination. Ht. 5-7’
• China Boy
  Best pollinator for China Girl. Ht. 6-7’

Japanese Holly

(Ilex crenata)

The Japanese holly cultivars are broadleaf evergreen shrubs that are excellent for massing, hedges, and foundation plantings. Most are densely shrubby with glossy, dark green leaves that are ½ inch to 1¼ inches long. Most have small, blackish fruit borne under the foliage. These plants are easy to grow in well-drained soil. They prefer full sun but will do quite well in partial shade.

• Howards
  Compact and slow-growing. Slightly convex leaves. Tolerates urban planting conditions. Maintain at a height of 4-6’.
• Hoogendorn
  Dense and compact. Ht. 2-3’
• Hellers
  Dwarf, compact, and slow-growing. Tiny, dark green leaves. Forms a low mound. Great for a rock garden or foundation planting. Ht. 1-3’
• Steeds
  Upright-growing, dense, and pyramidal. Ht. 8’
• Schwobels
  Upright. Upright to pyramidal. Ht. 6-8’
• Hetzi
  Dense, compact, and wide-spreading. Ht. 4-6’
• Green Lustre
  Compact, with low-spreading branches. Tolerant of urban conditions. Ht. 3’
• Compact
  Dense and compact. Ht. 3-4’
• Chesapeake
  Dense, compact, upright, and pyramidal. Ht. 6-8’

Inkberry Holly

(Ilex glabra)

Inkberry hollies are broadleaf evergreen shrubs that are native to North America. They have small, dark green, spineless leaves and black berries that are borne under the leaves. Very hardy and adaptable, Inkberry hollies are tolerant of sandy soils, salt, and coastal conditions, and are generally easy to grow. They are excellent for massing, hedges, and foundation plantings, and do well in sun or shade.

• Inkberry
  Wide, upright, and fast-growing. 6-8’
• Inkberry Compact
  Dense, wide, and upright. Ht. 4-6’
• Inkberry Shamrock
  Slow-growing and compact. Ht. 4’
• Inkberry Nordic
  Dense, compact, and rounded. Ht. 3-4’
• Inkberry Dense
  Dense, compact, and slow-growing.. Tolerant of wet conditions. Ht. 6-8’