Holly
Ilex species (AQUIFOLIACEAE)
Planting and Growing Holly Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow holly trees in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and berries of holly trees
- Growing conditions for holly
- When to plant holly
- How to plant holly
- How to prune holly
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of holly
- Landscape uses of holly
- Pest and disease control for holly
Growing Holly Trees
Nearly 400 species of medium- to slow-growing, rounded, dense, mostly evergreen shrubs or small trees, 10–50 ft. (3–15 m) tall, depending on species, with shiny, leathery, deep green, toothed, usually spiny leaves, to 4 in. (10 cm) long.
Commonly cultivated species include American Holly (Ilex opaca), Box-Leaved Holly (Ilex crenata), Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta), and English Holly (Ilex aquifolium).
Holly Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Inconspicuous white or green flowers form round, black or red berries on female trees, in clusters, to 6 in. (15 cm) long, in autumn. Plant a pollinating male tree with one or more female trees.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 4–8, depending on species; ground hardy, zones 7–8.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Average. 6.0–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun to partial shade. Space 8–12 ft. (2.4–3.7 m) apart, depending on species.
Proper Care
Moderate. Keep moist. Fertilize annually in spring. Mulch. Prune in spring. Protect from sun, wind in hot climates. Propagate by cuttings, grafting, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, backgrounds, borders, hedges in cottage, formal, small-space gardens. Berries attract birds. Mealybug, leaf miner and scale susceptible.