did you know?

Not all hollies have spiny leaves and red berries. Japanese and inkberry holly have rounded, boxwoodlike leaves and black berries. Winterberry hollies have soft, deciduous leaves and hold bright-red berries on naked stems in winter. Blue hollies have red berries and dark blue-green foliage. But all of them are excellent landscape plants.

general maintenance:

Prune damaged and weak stems or branches.

pests/diseases:

Leaf spot and powdery mildew may occur, but neither is serious.

controls:

Control leaf spot by removing all fallen leaves that could overwinter the disease, and avoid heavy pruning and overfertilization. To discourage powdery mildew, space plants for increased air circulation and avoid wetting leaves when watering. Pick off diseased leaves where practical.

how to sow/plant:

Choose a sunny to partly shady site with well-drained soil, making sure there is enough room for shrub to reach its mature size. In early spring, dig a hole twice as wide as container or root ball. Set plant at same depth or slightly higher than it was in pot, or if balled, set top of root ball level with soil. If plant is balled in synthetic fabric, remove carefully before backfilling. Natural-fiber burlap may be left around root ball and then peeled back once plant is set in hole. Mound soil to form a 2-inch-high ridge around perimeter of the hole to act as a catchbasin. Water thoroughly, filling the basin and allowing water to settle several times. Spread 2-inch-thick layer of mulch around plant.

water and fertilize:

Maintain uniform soil moisture the first season. Be sure the soil is moist before the ground freezes in fall. Each spring before growth begins, apply an all-purpose fertilizer, following label directions. Once shrub is established, usually by the third year, water only in times of drought.

garden hint:

Hollies are dioecious, meaning they bear male and female flowers on separate plants. Make sure you plant a compatible male cultivar near the females for desired fruiting.

features:

• Attractive Fruit
• Attracts Birds
• Native
• Shade Tolerant
• Wet Tolerant
• Winter Interest

garden uses:

• Containers
• Edging
• Flowerbed borders
• Naturalizing

other uses:

• Cut Flower (use fruited stems in fall and winter arrangements)

combine with:

purple beautyberry for fall fruit or inkberry yew , or spruce for an evergreen backdrop.