Holly Plant Information

Description

• Holly plants are a medium-sized evergreen that can grow to 50 feet tall and about 30 feet wide. They are pyramid-shaped when young but become broader and more rounded as they age. Their leaves are alternating, thick and glossy with sharp tips along the edges. Hollies produce small white flowers in late spring and red berries during winter months. The berries are inedible to humans but provide food for birds, squirrels and other animals.

Types

• Holly plants are a member of the genus Illex. There are approximately 400 members of this genus which is named after the Roman evergreen holly oak. Species can be found across the globe in temperate regions including Asia, Europe, Africa, South America and North America. American holly, or Illex opaca, is indigenous to North America and is Delaware's state tree. English holly, Illex aquifolium, is native to the British Isles and very similar in appearance and nature to American holly.

Growing Conditions

• When adding a holly plant to your landscape, plant the balled young holly in loose and well-drained soil. Holly plants prefer acidic soil high in organic material. Light shade is tolerated but holly plants prefer full sunlight. They have a wide spreading base as they grow and so should not be planted too closely to any sidewalk or pathway. To avoid exposure to winter winds plant the holly so that it will be protected from the north and west.

Propagation

• In the wild, holly plants are pollinated by bees. A female needs to be within about 100 feet of a male for successful pollination. Two to three males for each female holly plant is recommended. Fertilized seeds are eaten and dispersed by birds. Holly plants can also be propagated by taking stem cuttings in late summer to early fall after the season's growth has slowed. Cuttings should be planted in well-drained soil and kept moist at all times as they root.

Diseases

• There are a variety of fungi that are known to cause leaf spot and blight in holly plants. Leaf rot, leaf drop, powdery mildew, bacterial blight, leaf scorch and spine spot are some other holly plant diseases. Common pests of the holly plant include leaf miners, beetles, whitefly, mites, midges and scale insects. Found primarily in Florida holly plants, Sphaeropsis knot causes young twigs to swell and leaves to turn yellow and drop. Holly plants considered for propagation should be inspected for any disease prior to cutting.