Holly Bushes: How to Plant and Grow Holly Bushes

Holly bushes (Ilex) are sometimes deciduous but more regularly evergreen shrubs that produce red berries, white flowers, and spiny leaves. Their association with the Christmas holiday has made them popular additions to winter gardens in some parts of the world. But you can enjoy their green leaves and bright red berries beyond the winter months—in fact, they grow best in early spring and late fall. Although they grow across the world, most of the different varieties are found in North America and Asia.

There are numerous types of holly plants, each with unique characteristics. Common holly bushes include:

1. 1. American holly (Ilex opaca): This evergreen holly, with red berries and spindly leaves, is popular during winter holidays in some parts of the world.
2. 2. ‘Blue Princess’ and ‘Blue Prince’ (I. x meserveae): Also called ‘Conapri’ and ‘Conablu’ respectively, these blue-hued cultivars are a great example of how both male and female cultivars can ensure a holly garden in full bloom. Including both sexes will encourage the full breadth of berries, flowers, and leaves from these blue holly plants in your garden.
3. 3. Chinese holly (I. cornuta): Hailing from the land of its namesake, this bush boasts heights of up to 15–20 feet. It’s sometimes combined with other holly varieties—for instance, the ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ holly is a hybrid of this variety and English holly.
4. 4. English holly (I. aquifolium): This holly is a mainstay of British holiday celebrations. In English author Charles Dickens’ famous work A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Present holds a sprig of English holly aloft when first meeting Ebenezer Scrooge.
5. 5. Inkberry holly (I. glabra): Also called gallberry, inkberry holly plants get their name from the blackberries they produce, in contrast to the bright red berries of many of their close relatives. They’re mainly found in the coastal states in the Southern US.
6. 6. Japanese holly (Ilex crenata): Japanese holly is sometimes also called box-leaved holly and has dark green leaves and white flowers. Popular variations include ‘Sky Pencil,’ a cultivar named for its columnar shape, and the diminutive Japanese holly cultivar ‘Compacta’ (I. compacta).
7. 7. Winterberry holly (I. verticillata): Like some of its evergreen cousins, winterberry holly is a popular deciduous holly. While the leaves will fall off this plant in fall and winter, the berries will remain, leaving a dazzling display of bright red fruit in your garden.

To give your holly the best environment possible, consider following these four steps to planting holly bushes:

1. 1. Choose the right location. Planting holly in the right place outside is essential. While holly shrubs need sunlight to thrive, too much time in full sun can be bad for the plants. Seek out a place in your garden that gets equal parts shade and sun. Choose an area with well-draining, acidic soil and ground cover if possible. Due to holly’s need for partial shade, many landscapers find these shrubs to be good options for planting around the base of a home.
2. 2. Pick the right time. Whether your holly bushes are deciduous or show off their evergreen leaves year-round, you’ll want to plant them at the best possible time. Getting their roots in the ground when it’s breezy and cool outside is ideal, such as in early spring or late fall. In late summer or late winter, the conditions are generally too extreme to provide the best growing conditions. Consulting the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map can help you determine when your plants will thrive in your area’s climate.
3. 3. Dig deep and wide. You’ll want to give your holly bushes plenty of room to grow—both above and below ground—so dig expansive holes for them. Consider the size of the root ball for your holly tree and give it plenty of room. Shoot for around twice the size of the roots themselves. If you’re planting multiple bushes, give them plenty of space between each other, too—their root systems can get very large.
4. 4. Use both male and female plants. Plant both male and female holly plants close to each other in your garden. Male plants are the pollinators of female plants, and with their pollination, your bushes will produce the red holly berries they’re known for. You’ll also be able to enjoy the beautiful, full spectrum of the plants’ male and female flowers.

In order for holly bushes to flourish, you need to tend to them throughout their lives. Here are three tips to ensure they prosper:

1. 1. Keep pests at bay. While most holly varieties are deer-resistant, you’ll still need to keep an eye out for smaller insects eager to feast on these plants. Leafminers and aphids can be notable nuisances, so use an insecticide if necessary.
2. 2. Water and fertilize appropriately. Holly bushes are resilient in plenty of conditions, but you should still nourish them as well as you can. Though they can be drought-tolerant, their green foliage will shine brighter if you keep the soil around them moist. Adding mulch or organic fertilizer into the mix annually will keep their glossy leaves as brilliant as when they first bloomed.
3. 3. Consider pruning. Holly plants can get tall and wide, so it’s important to cull and cut them when necessary. Prune holly in the dormancy of winter and trim them down to wherever you see fit.

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