.jpg)
Deciduous Hollies - Female -
Deciduous Hollies have for too long been the Cinderella of the Holly family, neglected and overlooked, as one writer put it. With the increasing desire for year-round interest in the landscape and recreating wildlife habitats, Deciduous Hollies are coming into their own at last. Female plants of the best kinds have berries that cling to the long branches in great abundance. The berries color up in early autumn before the leaves drop, but their effect is most striking when the branches are bare of leaves. The berries provide a spectacular splash of color before being taken by birds in winter. They are also suitable for cutting, adding bright color to autumn and holiday arrangements. Deciduous Hollies do best in rich, acid soil that is evenly moist but not waterlogged. Either full or part sun is fine, but best fruit set occurs in full sun.
Ilex verticillata 'Jolly Red' - Winterberry
An old favorite from Connecticut, 'Jolly Red' produces a profusion of large red berries. Pollinate with 'Jim Dandy'. Grows slowly to about 10 feet. Z. 4-9
Bushy plants in fruit.
Ilex verticillata 'Kennebago' - Dwarf Winterberry
A dwarf form from Lake Kennebago in Maine that reaches only 3-4 feet after many years and produces the usual dazzling display of red fruits in fall. Pollinate with 'Jim Dandy' or 'Apollo'. Z. 4-9
Very bushy plants in fruit.
Ilex verticillata 'Maryland Beauty' - Winterberry
Oodles of berries, clustered all along the stems, color up early to a fine red on this compact introduction which reaches only 5 feet high and wide. This selection was originally selected for cut sprays, and the abundant and densely clustered berries make it useful if you're going to use Winterberry for this purpose. Pollinate with 'Apollo' or 'Southern Gentleman'. Z. 4-9
Ilex verticillata 'Oosterwijk' - Winterberry
We've been recommending Winterberry for cut-flower use for a long time, but the Dutch were way ahead of us and even developed this special selection for the cut-flower trade. 'Oosterwijk' (pronounced "Ohstervake") bears abundant bright red berries that are retained for a long time. Pollinate with 'Jim Dandy' or 'Southern Gentleman'. Z. 4-9
Bushy Specimen Plants in fruit.
Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite' - Dwarf Winterberry
All parts of this plant are dwarf except for the bright red berries, which are the largest of the dwarf Winterberries. Compact and remaining small, 'Red Sprite' should be the choice of gardeners with limited space who nevertheless want to grow and enjoy Winterberry. Pollinate with 'Jim Dandy'. Z. 4-9
Plants shipped in fruit.
Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold' - Golden Winterberry
This branch sport of the legendary 'Winter Red' produces golden berries with an orange tinge, a nice contrast to red Winterberries. Makes up into a medium-sized shrub. Pollinate with 'Southern Gentleman' or 'Apollo'. PHS Gold Medal winner. Z. 4-9
Lovely plants in fruit.
Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red' - Winterberry
Intense red fruit color is usually retained throughout the winter, and the heavy fruiting may weigh down the branches of this multistemmed, erect, medium-sized Winterberry that grows broad with age. This fine selection is the standard by which Winterberries are judged. Pollinate with 'Southern Gentleman' or 'Apollo'. PP 2991. PHS Gold Medal. Z. 4-9
Bushy plants in fruit.
Deciduous Hollies - Male -
A male Winterberry is required for berry set, and one male will pollinate several female plants within 50-100 feet. Select an appropriate male for the female plants to be grown.
Ilex verticillata 'Jim Dandy' (Male) - Winterberry (Male)
A good male pollinator for the following Hollies: 'Jolly Red', 'Kennebago', 'Maryland Beauty', 'Oosterwijk', and 'Red Sprite'. A small to medium-sized shrub, growing to 5 feet or so. Z. 4-9
Ilex verticillata 'Southern Gentleman' (Male) - Winterberry
A medium-sized male pollinator for female Winterberries such as 'Maryland Beauty', 'Oosterwijk', 'Winter Gold', and 'Winter Red'. Z. 4-9
Ilex x 'Apollo' (Male) - Hybrid Winterberry
A medium-sized shrub and good pollinator for the following Hollies: 'Kennebago', 'Maryland Beauty', 'Winter Gold', and 'Winter Red'. Z. 5-9
Evergreen Hollies -
Apart from the beauty of their foliage and fruits, evergreen Hollies come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and forms_from great trees to small shrubs and even groundcovers, with large spiny leaves to small smooth ones. Holly berries can be red, orange, yellow, black, or white. A single evergreen Holly planted as a specimen can form the centerpiece of a garden, against which winter-flowering Witch Hazels or other shrubs will be shown to advantage. Hollies planted en masse make an effective and attractive hedge, screen, or barrier to provide privacy along boundaries, to line a driveway, or to block noise from the road. Most Hollies are amenable to pruning to fit a desired location or to shape to a desired look. Hollies require separate male and female plants in most cases for the female plant to produce berries. Male plants are identified as such; otherwise, all Holly selections offered are female plants. Generally, Hollies thrive in moist, well drained, acid soil containing organic matter. Full sun or part shade suits most of them as long as they are not overly exposed to desiccating winds or winter sun.
Ilex 'Rock Garden' - Dwarf Holly
A beautiful small Holly that grows less than a foot high after 10 years, perhaps 2 feet in 20 years. The lustrous, deep green tapered leaves look very smart. In fall and winter the large red fruits poke through the polished foliage, and the plant appears to be self fruitful. Another introduction by the tireless Dr. Orton of Rutgers University, who points out that it is unusually adaptable to container culture if the roots can be protected from severe cold. (I. x aquipernyi x I. x integripernyi). Z. 6-8
Ilex aquifolium 'Aureamarginata' - Variegated English Holly
Glossy evergreen leaves with a bright yellow margin and polished dark red berries. This is the English Holly often used in holiday decorations, and it grows well in coastal areas of the Mid-Atlantic, slowly reaching 15-20 feet. Pollinate with male English Holly, or try planting with Ilex 'Rock Garden' or Ilex Red Beauty since both of these carry some English Holly genes. Z. 6b-8
Ilex crenata 'Drops of Gold' - Japanese Holly
The puckered foliage displays what looks like a drop of molten gold in the center of each dark green leaf. Grows well in either full sun or light shade. A daytime light for lining the driveway! Grows slowly to 5 feet. PP 14420. Z. 6-8
Ilex glabra 'Nigra' - Inkberry
One of the hardiest broadleaf evergreens, this native Holly is also one of the toughest. It can be grown in full sun or considerable shade, in wet or dry soil, and it tolerates hot summers as well as bitterly cold winters. Salt spray does not faze it either. This billowy evergreen can even be used as a substitute for Boxwood where Boxwood is not hardy. While most Inkberries become rangy with age, 'Nigra' remains relatively compact, reaching about 3 feet. Lustrous dark green leaves are especially attractive. Z. 5-9
Ilex pedunculosa (Female) - Longstalk Holly (Female)
The smooth tapered leaves of this unusual Holly are lustrous dark green, and the small red fruits occur in clusters at the ends of long stalks in the manner of cherries—most festive! We have seen Longstalk Holly planted at the corner of a house where its lush evergreen foliage and lax growth habit create a soft, rounded contour that effectively ties the house to the landscape. This Holly is so versatile, however, that at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, plantings of Longstalk Holly are used to soften the harsh paved surfaces of the parking area. One of the hardiest and loveliest evergreen Hollies, Longstalk Holly eventually becomes a large shrub or small tree. Only female I. pedunculosa set fruit, and a male I. pedunculosa should be planted nearby for pollination. Z. 5-8
A beautiful crop of plants this fall, which will be shipped in fruit.
Ilex pedunculosa (Male) - Longstalk Holly (Male)
A male selected to pollinate female Longstalk Hollies. Z. 5-8
Ilex Red Beauty - Holly
A spanking new selection from the tireless Dr. Elwin Orton and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Red Beauty is an unusual tree form of the popular Meserve Hollies crossed with I. pernyi. Dark evergreen spiny leaves clothe this dense, compact new introduction. Shiny red fruits peek out from among the attractive leaves in fall and winter. This Holly forms a central leader at an early age and develops a narrow to medium conical form. After 7 years the original plant has grown 7 feet tall and 4.5 feet wide. PP 14308. (Cv. Rutzan). Z. 5-8
Ilex Winter Bounty - Evergreen Holly
Bold glossy foliage and heavy red berry set inspired Holly breeder Dr. Elwin Orton to release this stunning hybrid of I. ciliospinosa and I. latifolia. Grows 14 feet high and 6 feet wide—a vigorous plant, Winter Bounty is best planted in dappled sun or light shade. Cv. H635-13. Z. 6-9
Ilex x koehneana 'Hohman' - Hybrid Holly
Extremely beautiful, polished, dark green leaves are the principal attraction of this fine selection from a Maryland nursery. In tests at the National Arboretum, I. 'Hohman' was one of the best Hollies, bearing tremendous crops of vivid red berries. It is not affected by summer heat and humidity and is reasonably cold hardy as well. Though somewhat self fruitful, berry set can be enhanced by planting with another hybrid Holly such as Ilex 'Rock Garden or Ilex Red Beauty. Z. 6b-9
American Hollies - Ilex opaca
There are few more beautiful sights in winter than the glistening leaves of an American Holly dusted with snow. The berries produced on female plants seem almost magical in the pale light of winter. Most American Hollies become stately trees over time, although a few selections remain low and spreading. A female plant of American Holly must bloom in proximity to a male in order to have a berry display. Male plants are identified as such; otherwise, all Holly selections are female plants. Our selections are vastly superior to the unnamed seedlings sometimes sold. We constantly receive inquiries about why American Hollies are practically unavailable in larger sizes with the classic _Christmas Tree_ shape. The reason is not just that American Hollies are slow growing, but they do not begin to take on their classic shape until they are 6-8 years old, sometimes more. Until then they usually grow as a multistemmed, somewhat rangy shrub. There are two ways to deal with this. You can take a laissez-faire approach and allow the Holly to form its central leader in its own good time. Or you can stake the strongest stem as a leader as we do here at the nursery (except for the spreading types). Sometimes the plant will go along with our idea; other times it will decide that a different branch should be the central leader and put its energy into that one. Patience seems to be the only long-term remedy.
Ilex opaca 'Canary' - Yellow-Fruited American Holly
A handsome selection made from seed collected in North Carolina by the old Dilatush Nursery, Robbinsville, N.J., 'Canary' has buttercup yellow fruits with no hint of orange. Dark olive-green leaves have small spines and do not discolor in winter. Let this 'Canary' perform in your garden! Z. 5-9
Ilex opaca 'Dan Fenton' - American Holly
The leaves have a unique "squarish" appearance and are large, dark, and glossy on this spreading conical tree with red fruits in winter. Dr. Orton of Rutgers University chose this selection to honor Daniel G. Fenton, a long-time resident of Millville, New Jersey, who dedicated most of his life to promoting Hollies. Z. 5-9
Ilex opaca 'Jersey Knight' (Male) - American Holly (Male)
One of the finest male American Hollies, discovered in the wild in central New Jersey. This dense, upright tree has outstanding dark green leaves. Z. 5-9
Ilex opaca 'Jersey Princess' - American Holly
The most winter hardy of Dr. Orton's American Holly selections, 'Jersey Princess' is also one of the most beautiful. The abundant red berries and dark, glossy foliage are a thrilling sight in the winter landscape. Z. 5-9
Ilex opaca 'Longwood Gardens' - American Holly
Egg yolk-yellow with a hint of orange is the berry color of this upright-growing selection with attractive foliage. Selected at renowned Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. Z. (5)6-9
Ilex opaca 'Maryland Dwarf' - Dwarf American Holly
An unusual selection growing, after many years, only about 3 feet high but spreading to 6 feet. For the first 10 years, we should note, 'Maryland Dwarf remains nearly prostrate while it spreads out. Greater height is developed as it matures. Large glossy leaves and red berries lend the usual cheery Holly effect. Noted plantsman Tom Dilatush selected this form from a large group of seedling Hollies at a Maryland nursery. Z. 5-9
Ilex opaca 'Paterson' - American Holly
'Paterson' grows with a narrow upright habit when young. Foliage is dense with a dark green color and distinctive texture. Z. 5-9
Ilex opaca 'Princeton Gold' - American Holly
Selected at Princeton Nursery for its large, pure yellow berries, which hold all winter, as well as its dark green winter foliage. It is a vigorous grower which grows into a nice, pyramidal tree with that classic "Christmas Tree" shape. Z. 6-9
Ilex opaca 'Winter Sun' - American Holly
American Holly fruits are usually various shades of red or yellow, but 'Winter Sun' bears unusual bright orange-yellow berries with peach overtones! A stunning accent for your winter garden, 'Winter Sun' grows about 20 feet high. Z. 5-9
