How to Plant, Grow, and Care for the Holly Tree

Holly trees are widely recognized as a symbol of Christmas with their spiny leaves and clusters of scarlet berries. But did you know that there are over 400 species in the holly family? The American holly tree grows natively all over the eastern United States. This evergreen tree has many different varieties and native habitats all over the world, from Europe to Japan to the Caribbean. 

Holly trees can add a pop of green to your winter landscape, and they are excellent for borders or hedges. Some holly trees grow rather large, while some holly species remain on the smaller side or dwarf size. Because these trees grow year-round, they also provide cover and food sources for many birds and other wild animals during the winter. Numerous species of holly trees are dioecious, meaning that you will need both female and male types to cross-pollinate the females to produce berries. 

Many species share similar needs and management, and below, we’ll discuss a generalized guide to holly tree care. Their red berries and green leaves make them stand out in the landscape, but if a gigantic holly tree isn’t your thing, there are also varieties that more closely resemble small trees or holly bushes. 

What is a Holly Tree?

Holly trees are made up of over 500 species in the Ilex family. American holly trees and European holly are the most widely recognizable holly species due to their association with Christmas time decorations and traditions. European holly, Ilex aquifolium, is thought to have derived its name from the Latin word acrifolium, which literally translates to “sharp leaf”. 

Native Area

There are native species in many different climates from tropics to subtropics, but they’re most widely distributed in temperate zones worldwide. Below we’ll discuss different varieties of holly and their native ranges. Holly trees are perennial evergreens which makes them a great choice for growers in Northern climates who would like to keep some greenery around in the wintertime.

Characteristics

Generally, the leaves are dark green with a shiny and leathery texture. They are often also very spiky, almost serrated in appearance. 

Most holly species produce tiny white flowers that will bear red berries when properly pollinated. Though these are often referred to as berries, they aren’t berries at all! The red fruit is a drupe, which is more closely related to stone fruit, with a single hard seed in the center. Holly requires a low level of maintenance but will require some pruning if you wish to control its shape and growth habit. 

Varieties

There are too many varieties of holly to discuss here, so we have picked some popular varieties to chat about.

American Holly

Ilex opaca has a native range in the eastern United States along the coast from Massachusetts to as far south as Florida and west to Missouri and eastern Texas. American holly grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 and is cold hardy down to 20°F (-7°C). It is most easily identifiable by its bright red berries that grow in clusters at the leaf axis. Ilex opaca also has the classic spiny leaves that many hollies also possess. This native holly is a common sight in the southeastern United States.

European Holly

Ilex aquifolium, also called English holly, is generally the type of holly that is depicted in Christmas decorations in much of England and North America. You may have heard the popular Christmas carol, Deck The Halls, in which you’re encouraged to bring in boughs of holly. This evergreen winterberry is also commonly used as an in-home decoration alongside mistletoe. In Celtic mythology, The Holly King is the wintertime counterpart to the summertime Oak King. Their endless battle results in the fluctuation of seasons. 

Japanese Holly

Ilex crenata is more compact than American holly trees, with a spread of six to ten feet tall and wide. Because of their smaller size, they make an excellent choice for borders or hedges. These holly bushes have more of a shrub-like appearance than a tree and are sometimes referred to as box-leaved holly. This variety is native to Japan and other areas of Southeast Asia. 

Chinese Holly

Ilex cornuta, also known as horned holly, is native to China and eastern Korea. It has since been introduced to the United States and is considered invasive in southern states such as Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi. Chinese holly is considered to be the fastest-growing holly and will require regular pruning to contain its growth and shape. It is identifiable by its dark green, leathery leaves. 

Dahoon Holly

Ilex cassine has a native range that begins in the southeastern states and extends into Mexico and the Caribbean. These holly bushes prefer warmer climates and do best in USDA hardiness zones 7-11. They prefer swamplands, bogs, and moist soil. This variety is diecious which means that it has separate male and female trees. The male trees will produce small white flowers that will never turn into red fruit. The female trees will bear the standard red berries. 

Blue Holly

Ilex x meserveae is also known as blue princess holly. This variety can be identified by its purple stems and dark blue-green foliage. This female hybrid will need a male pollinator present to produce berries. The male varieties are known as the blue prince or blue stallion. Like most other hollies, this shrub provides year-round greenery. 

Mountain Holly

Ilex mucronata, also known as catberry, has dull foliage and does not have the leathery leaves that other varieties are known for. This variety is native to the northeastern United States, as far north as Newfoundland, and west into Minnesota. It is the host of the Columbia silkmoth caterpillars found in Maine. These holly trees prefer USDA zones 4-9.

Tarajo Holly

Ilex latifolia is another variety native to Japan and southeastern China. It has tight clusters of very tiny red berries. These trees have leaves with a pale yellow-green underside and are generally used as ornamentals. The leaves can be brewed in hot water to make a tea known as bitter nail tea. This bitter tea is caffeine-free and is thought to clear the head and the eyes; for this reason, it has been used to treat the common cold.

Longstalked Holly

Ilex pedunculosa is native to China, Taiwan, and Japan. It is a lanky shrub that can be mistaken for a vine because of its tall, thin growth habit. It gets its name from the long, thin peduncle, which is the stalk between the main branch and the flowers. This variety is also particularly cold-hardy. 

Yerba Mate

Many of us are familiar with the yerba mate that lines the grocery store shelves, either in dried tea form or as an ingredient in canned energy drinks. But did you know that yerba mate is derived from dried holly tree leaves? Ilex paraguariensis is a variety that contains caffeine and is used to make tea in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. It has since become widely available around the world. 

Yaupon Holly

Yaupon is another beverage that was typically made as a traditional tribal tea amongst tribes in the southern United States. It originates from the yaupon holly, Ilex vomitoria, and is one of only two native to North America known to contain caffeine. Yaupon tea is gradually becoming more popular, and this holly grows throughout the southeastern United States.

Planting

Planting Ilex species requires selecting a well-draining location with partial to full sunlight. These evergreen or deciduous shrubs thrive in slightly acidic, moist soil rich in organic matter. Before planting, loosen the soil and mix in compost to improve fertility.

Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than its height. Place the tree in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Then, backfill with soil and gently firm it around the roots. Water thoroughly afterwards and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Mulching around the base helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. If growing female holly varieties for berry production, plant a compatible male pollinator nearby.

How to Grow

Since there are so many different types of holly, we’ll discuss the general care guidelines below. Certain varieties, however, may have slightly different needs. Always consult the nursery for tips on the specific variety that you intend to purchase. 

Light

Holly trees prefer full sun, but will also tolerate partial shade. Because the holly tree can grow very tall it’s best to plant them on the north side of your garden so they won’t be shaded out by other trees, nor will they shade out smaller types near them.

Water

Holly trees don’t require too much in the way of water other than when they are first getting established. In the first few weeks after planting, be sure to water your holly deeply at least once a week. Once the holly is established then watering can be cut back. Most hollies are quite drought-tolerant and can dry out completely between waterings.

Leaving a soaker hose at the base of the tree and completely saturating the root ball is the best way to water holly during especially dry summer periods. These trees will not need water during the winter and will receive most of the moisture that they need from snowfall.  

Soil

Hollies prefer loamy, well-draining, slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5-6. They will tolerate poorer soil quality, but you may not get flowers and therefore no berries. A soil test to determine the pH is a good idea if the berries are your goal, and if the soil is too basic, then it can easily be amended with a soil acidifier. 

Temperature

Since there are so many different varieties of holly, there is a variety for virtually every USDA growing zone. There are cold-hardy varieties that can be grown in zones 3-7 and more heat-tolerant varieties that can be grown in zones 7-above. There are types of holly that have native ranges extending into Mexico and other varieties that still have habitats as far north as Canada. 

Fertilizing

It’s best to fertilize holly trees in mid-spring, soon after the cold weather of winter has finally passed and the trees are about to begin putting on new growth. These love any type of slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving varieties. Generally, these fertilizers are formulated for blueberries and/or hydrangeas, which are also acid-loving perennials. 

If you’re planting a holly in its native range, there’s no need for fertilizer.

Maintenance

Holly trees do require pruning in their lifetime to maintain their overall shape, especially if you’re using them as a hedge. They are generally slow-growing; most only need pruning every two to three years. It’s best to do pruning towards the end of the growing season in August or September, just before the fall/winter when the overall growth rate will slow to a stop. 

Propagation

Holly can be grown from seed collected from the holly berries but will take some time to reach a size that can be transplanted into the landscape. They can also be propagated from cuttings which will size up much faster. Take cuttings when doing your regular end-of-the-season pruning and dip them in rooting hormone, then place them into potting soil. Water well until roots are established. These cuttings can be grown indoors over winter and then will be ready to transplant out in the spring. 

Common Problems

Holly is considered a low-maintenance tree because it has few pests and disease issues and has easy general care requirements. However, there are a few things to look out for, which we’ll discuss below. 

Growing Problems

Leaf scorch can be identified by the appearance of circular tan spots that occur in early spring and summer. This can be caused by the formation of new leaves during cool and damp weather. Although this is sometimes out of your control due to outdoor weather conditions, it can be avoided by not beginning to water your holly again until mid-spring and avoiding wetting the foliage. Using a soaker hose at the base for watering will help prevent this growing problem. 

Pests

Holly has little to no pests, but root knot nematodes have been known to cause issues. They tend to attack the root ball and the indicators of a nematode infestation will present as yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and dead areas of the root system. An analysis of the soil surrounding the roots will need to be done to confirm the presence of nematodes. If the holly is well cared for and healthy, then generally speaking, the presence of nematodes shouldn’t cause any long-term issues. 

Diseases

Spine spots will look like pinhead-sized spots on the leaves surrounded by a purple halo. This issue will appear in late winter after much growth has been put on during the spring and summer. It was once thought to have been caused by the spiky leaves poking themselves, but it is actually caused by ovipositing of certain insects. Ovipositing occurs when an insect deposits an egg onto the surface of the leaf. This issue is usually only cosmetic and doesn’t cause any long-term harm to your holly. 

Frequently Asked Questions