Are you looking for a classic, evergreen shrub to add some charm to your outdoor space? Holly trees and bushes (Ilex) are a great choice, as they can offer year-round interest and will thrive with minimal maintenance. With proper care and pruning techniques, holly bushes can become an attractive addition to any garden. Some species can even be trimmed into hedges. In our guides below, we provide tips on species and cultivar selection, specific growing guides for each variety, and the information you need to grow healthy plants in your yard. New to growing hollies? Start with our 101-growing guide.
Japanese hollies are easy-care, evergreen shrubs that come in an astounding array of shapes and sizes, with leaves that range from dark green and petite to large and yellow. Some varieties have columnar growth habits and others are low-growing shrubs. Learn about 21 of the best Japanese holly cultivars in this guide.
Hollies make up a beautiful group of plants in the Ilex genus, from winterberries to the classic holly. Most species are evergreen, though some are deciduous, and they all have eye-catching berries and attractive foliage, providing year-round interest. Learn how to plant and grow holly in this guide. Read more now.
Yaupon hollies should be more popular than they are. You can make caffeinated tea from the leaves, grow them in a range of environments, and they need little maintenance. The red berries attract wildlife and the evergreen leaves offer year-round interest. Learn how to plant and raise these versatile, hardy shrubs.
Japanese hollies are essentially maintenance-free and untroubled by pests or disease. Deer and rabbits just hop on by, and your pruners will gather dust in the shed, because they maintain a tidy shape without any work from you – unless you plan to shape them into elaborate topiaries, and that’s great too! Read more.
English holly puts the jolly in holiday decor. The cheery red berries brighten early winter landscapes and sustain songbirds, while the evergreen foliage is a must in wreaths and cut arrangements. Read more now to learn how to grow this Christmas holly as a tree or trained shrub, from transplanting to pest control.
If you’ve never tried growing American holly before, you’re in for something special. With glossy leaves and bright red berries, nothing says winter cheer quite like this plant. But is it hard to grow? How do you encourage the bushes to produce berries? Learn everything you need to know in our guide. Read more now.
Inkberry holly is an evergreen shrub with small white flowers in the spring. By autumn, blue-black drupes, or berry-like fruits, make a late-season feast for foraging birds. Inkberry holly is easy to add to the landscape, especially with these tips for successful cultivation. Ready to grow your own? Read more.
Oak Leaf holly is a hybrid cultivar with unique, shapely leaves and bright berries, that provides year-round interest to the garden. This stately, pyramid-shaped evergreen shrub is ideal as a specimen planting and can be pruned into a formal hedge or privacy screen. Learn how to grow Oak Leaf holly in this guide.
Nothing says winter cheer quite like the bright red berries of a winterberry holly, so why not try growing your own at home? Learn everything you need to know to add this beautiful woody shrub to your yard or garden, including some of the best uses for the deciduous perennial. Hint: holiday decor is top of the list.