Hollies
Hollies
Hollies are evergreen shrubs that hold on to their dark green leaves and berries through the winter. Other shrubs lose their leaves or at least change colors.
Hollies have become associated with the Christmas season. This is because of the round red berries with the shiny pointed leaves that are visible even with a covering of white snow.
They are a slow-growing shrub with dark thick branches. The leaves are stiff and shiny, tipped with several sharp points.
It takes both a male and a female plant to make the berries. One male can pollinate 6 to 8 female plants, it only has to be in the vicinity. Some plant them as a hedge, inserting a male in the center.
Now for the exception…
There is a family of Hollies that are not covered with the pointed leaves. They have small oval leaves similar to boxwoods.
They’re still evergreen, keeping their leaves all winter, but they don’t produce the red berries. They make nice hedges or accent shrubs and can be easily pruned to size and shape.
They are more suited to friendly hedges and pathways. They are Japanese Hollies and we have 2 varieties here at the nursery.
Some of the Hollies we may have available here are:
Blue Princess
Blue Princess
Ilex meserveae ‘Blue Princess’
6 to 8 feet high and 6 to 8 feet wide
Partial shade
Spiny blue-green leaves that are stiff and shiny. Tiny white flowers give way to red berries in late fall. Needs Blue Prince for pollination to make berries.
Blue Prince
Blue Prince
Ilex meserveae ‘Blue Prince’
6 to 8 feet high and 6 to 8 feet wide
Partial shade
Spiny blue-green leaves that are stiff and shiny. Tiny white flowers pollinate the Blue Princess for berries. One Prince can take care of several Princesses.
Oregon Grape
Oregon Grape
Mahonia aquifolium
3 to 6 feet high and 3 to 6 feet wide
Partial shade
Stiff spiny leaves look like rough leather. Yellow flower clusters form in early spring followed by small clusters of bluish-purple berries that resemble grapes (upper left corner) in summer. A single plant is all you need.
Japanese Hollies
Northern Beauty
Northern Beauty
Ilex crenata ‘Northern Beauty’
3 to 5 feet high and 3 to 5 feet wide
Full sun/partial shade
Small, oval, dense evergreen foliage. Dense growth makes a good hedge.
Compact
Compact
Ilex crenata ‘Compacta’
6 to 8 feet high and 6 to 10 feet wide
Full sun/partial shade
Lustrous oval leaves cover this rounded slow-growing Japanese Holly. Great for topiary or a formal look. Excellent Boxwood replacement.
