American Holly
Ilex opaca (AQUIFOLIACEAE)
Planting and Growing American Holly Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow American holly trees in the accompanying table’s tabs:
-
- Flowers, foliage, and berries of American holly trees
- Growing conditions for American holly
- When to plant American holly
- How to plant American holly
- How to prune American holly
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of American holly
- Landscape uses of American holly
- Pest and disease control for American holly
Growing American Holly Trees
Over 1,000 cultivars exist of this single and popular holly species. All are slow-growing, upright, pyramid-shaped to round-crowned, broad-leaved, evergreen trees, to 50 ft. (15 m) tall, with shiny or leathery, dark green, oval, pointed, mostly spine-toothed leaves, to 4 in. (10 cm) long.
American Holly Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Insignificant white flowers in spring form round, red or yellow berries, to 1/3 in. (8 mm) wide, in winter, in clusters on female trees. Requires both male and female trees to bear fruit.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 6–9.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich. 6.0–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun to partial shade. Space 10 ft. (3 m) apart. Add acidic compost regularly to maintain proper soil pH.
Proper Care
Easy. Allow soil surface to dry between waterings until established. Fertilize in spring and autumn. Mulch. Prune sparingly in early spring. Protect from wind. Propagate by cuttings, grafting.
About This Species
Good choice for backgrounds, barriers, specimens in cottage gardens. Good for cutting. Berries attract birds. Mealybug, leaf miner, holly bud moth and scale susceptible.