FEBRUARY GARDEN TIPS
"HOLLY"
Hollies grow all over the world and 20-30 native species are found in North America.
Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College has a Nationally Accredited collection of 300 different varieties.
Hundreds of beautiful hybrids (offspring of 2 different plants man-made or not) and cultivars ( a specific plant chosen from a group of hybrids) have been produced by plant breeders.
There are so many variations of leaf shape (outline), leaf margins (edges), and surfaces ( glossy or not-so-glossy greens ). The berries of the female Holly, AKA fruit or drupes, come in shades of red, yellow, and orange. There must be pollination from a male Holly, which is completed by insects. Both male and female Holly produce flowers. A female Holly can show no fruit if not pollinated. It is unnecessary to have the same male species for pollination, and the pollinator can travel far for successful pollination.
Deciduous Holly shrubs are very popular for landscape color and provide food for birds in later winter. Beautiful cultivars of Holly shrubs have been produced from the native deciduous Hollies - 2 are Ilex verticillata and Ilex decidua found in the Eastern US.
Winterberry Holly Ilex verticillata ‘Berry Poppins' Mary Andrews garden
Evergreen Hollies can be used as backdrops or as an interest point. They resist pollution and salt spray.
Addition to your landscape is simple.
Plant in a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep as the root ball. Digging deeper isn't recommended because the plant may settle lower. A rock under the plant (if the hole is too deep) is ok - the plants' roots spread horizontally and there is no tap root.
A sunny site is best with well-draining slightly acidic soil.
Minimal to no fertilizer initially with a 2-4 inch natural mulch placed beyond the drip line is helpful. Older Hollies like fertilizer higher in potash and phosphorus with nitrogen. Apply in mid-March. Once established they tolerate dry spells.
If they have room to grow they grow in a nice shape. My property has many older Hollies shaded by taller trees, their growth is irregular and open. Major pruning called ‘hat-racking’ could help but that doesn’t solve the location being shaded.
New growth happens around the end of branches and Hollies have numerous latent buds under their bark if pruning is needed.
I have some stimulating tea called Yerba mate I enjoy from time to time.
It is from Ilex paraguariensis. Indigenous peoples of Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil brew this tea from the native Holly forests there. 😊 Ellen Seward
American Holly Ilex opaca our side property
