13 Types of Holly Plants All DIY Landscapers Should Know

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Holly George W. Bush — which can usually be identified by their stiff , spiny leaf and reddish , yellow , or black Chuck Berry — require little aid unless you desire to keep them sheared into hedges . In most cases , you will need both male and female George Herbert Walker Bush should you want the females to grow Chuck Berry .

Holly can serve up as foundationshrubs for the front of your house , or you may shape them into trees alternatively . The democratic type of holly Dubyuh below include the Japanese , Chinese , American , English , yaupon , low , and winterberry category , each of which have their own cultivars , recommend hardiness zone , and skilful use within a base landscape painting .

Holly bush growing berries outside of brick wall.

Photo: istockphoto.com

1. Drops of Gold Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata‘Drops of Gold’)

Due to their small , spineless leaf and ( ordinarily ) black berry , Japanese holly bushes do n’t look like distinctive holly and may be misguided forboxwood shrubs . The ‘ Drops of Gold ’ cultivar grows up to 4 feet tall and wide with yellow variegated leave of absence ; that variegation is brightest in full Dominicus . Because it is a female clon , it will expect a male holly nearby if you need berry . harmonize toDirr ’s Encyclopedia of Treesand Shrubs by Michael Dirr , any male person holly can pollinate any distaff Buddy Holly if both flower at the same time .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:5 to 8Best for : Foundation planting , hedge , group

2. Sky Pencil Japanese Holly (I. crenata‘Sky Pencil’)

One of the greenest of holly evergreen shrubs and named for its elegantly svelte visibility , this cultivar produce up to 8 feet marvellous but only about 3 feet wide . It , too , is female and lacks the typical spine , so it is not “ the sharp pencil in the cup”—or skunk . This can be a good matter when it is place in in high spirits - traffic area , but it will need a nearby male to grow its dark - over-embellished Charles Edward Berry .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:5 to 8Best for : big containers , living fence , upright accent mark

3. Burford Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta‘Burfordii’)

Formosan hollies are a bitpricklierthan the Japanese type , but each leafage has only a single pricker at the tip . They also do n’t call for pollenation to bring on their blood-red fruits during dip and wintertime . One of the most popular holly tree types , Burford usually matures at 15 feet and often is shear into high hedges . But it is capable of turn over 25 foot in height if allowed to grow as a tree rather than a bush .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:7 to 9Best for : Hedge , small tree , specimen plant

4. Carissa Chinese Holly (I. cornuta‘Carissa’)

For those who opt a low holly bush , ‘ Carissa ’ should measure up — or down ! This slowly - growing bush loosely does n’t surpass 4 feet tall though it is subject of reaching 8 foot tall , and its dense growth make it ideal for a low holly bush hedge . TheUniversity of Floridanotes that ‘ Carissa ’ can turn back back to a ‘ Rotunda ’ form and produce more spine than is distinctive and that its “ berry display is mostly inferior toIlex cornuta‘Burfordii ’ . ” Because holly flower ( which appear in spring ) are pocket-size and white , the plant typically are grown for their foliation and berries rather than their bloom .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:7 to 9Best for : Border , foundation plant , hedging

5. Canary American Holly (Ilex opaca‘Canary’)

American holly are among the largest and hardiest types of holly plants — growing upwards of 50 feet tall in the wild . They also have the bristled foliage for a wintertime holiday vibe . However , they do n’t always produce the distinctive red Chuck Berry , which might be a estimable thing if you choose a less Christmassy works . The ‘ snitcher ’ cultivar instead offers chicken fruits on plant life that can arise up to 30 fundament tall , but it will require a nearby male to produce those berry .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:5 to 9Best for : Foundation works , bird garden , or woodland garden

6. Steward’s Silver Crown Holly (I. opaca‘Steward’s Silver Crown’)

Those who prefer showy foliage may want to prefer for ‘ Steward ’s Silver Crown . ’ Named for nurseryman T. Linwood Steward , who identify it , this mutation is sometimes erroneously advertise as ‘ Stewart ’s Silver Crown ’ or else . It is a female cultivar with flatware - edged leafage , distort with pink when untested , and can grow to 25 feet tall . As with other character of American holly , it will command a manlike pollinator nearby to produce its red berries . ( Keep in brain that “ nearby ” means no more than 100 human foot off . )

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:5 to 9Best for : Foundation industrial plant , hedge , or specimen plant

7. Variegated English Holly (Ilex aquifolium‘Argentea Marginata’)

Similar to American Holly in that they , too , usually have spiny foliage and cerise berries , English case are less unfearing . ‘ Argentea Marginata , ’ which can farm to 40 feet marvellous , offers frost - abut ( white variegated ) foliage that can be set off by contrasting red berries , provided the female plant is pollinate by a male . Keep in mind that this showy cultivar is not drouth - resistant and performs best in coastal climates , where it can even become encroaching .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:7 to 9Best for : Accent plant , barrier , privacy sieve

8. Gold Coast English Holly (I. aquifolium‘Monvila’)

If you prefer a holly bush with yellow variegation , choose for ‘ Gold Coast ’ for leaves with gilded edge . A male eccentric which grows to 6 feet magniloquent , it does n’t produce fruit itself but can pollinate distaff hollies . It is unfearing than most English cultivar . Since it drops no berries , it ’s also a in effect pick for areas where those hollies may otherwise be invasive throughself - sowing . Gold Coast English holly should be allow with good afternoon shade in red-hot climate .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:6 to 9Best for : Accent works , base plant life , hedging

9. Bordeaux Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria‘Bordeaux’)

acclimatize to the South , yaupon hollies produce kinder , easy ( wishy-washy ) foliage than most other Charles Hardin Holley . They also have an easy - go nature and will tolerate more wraith and/or drouth than those others do , though they still require pollinator . A tight - growing holly , yaupons typically top out at about 20 foot , but ‘ Bordeaux wine ’ implant aredwarf holly bushesand seldom surmount 5 feet tall . The cultivar name refers to the novel foliage and wintertime foliage , which has a Burgundy wine tinge .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:7 to 9Best for : Bonsai , container plant , hedge

10. Folsom’s Weeping Yaupon Holly (I. vomitoria‘Folsom’s Weeping’)

One of the more unusual holly tree varieties , this one grows to 30 feet grandiloquent and lets its haircloth , er , fork down in a pendulous growth pattern resembling that of weeping willow . It makes a good stand up - alone tree ; if you desire red Charles Edward Berry too , however , you will need to provide the female Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with male company . Also , because the tree does sucker , it wo n’t be on its own for long unless you remove those suckers .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:7 to 9Best for : Accent plant , specimen plant , topiary

11. China Girl Blue Holly (Ilexxmeserveae‘China Girl’)

Introduced by Kathleen K. Meserve , the so - call off blue Buddy Holly really derived from hybridisation between English holly , Chinese holly , and the prostrate - growingIlex rugosa . They are considered , byOregon State University , to be “ the hardiest of the Holly that have the stereotypical ‘ holly wait , ’ ” and they sometimes can survive in USDA Hardiness Zone 4 as well as in the urge Zones of 5 to 7 . ‘ China Girl ’ derive from acornutacross , grows to 10 foot magniloquent with kelly green leaf , and will produce red yield when paired with ‘ China Boy ’ or another male holly .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:5 to 7Best for : Foundation plant , hedge , shrub moulding

12. Blue Girl Blue Holly (Ilexxmeserveae‘Blue Girl’)

One of the materialisation of an English holly cross , ‘ Blue Girl ’ grows to 8 metrical unit tall with blue - green foliage and red berries and will need a pollinator such as ‘ sorry Boy . ’ You sometimes can purchase a combo package with two plants — one of each sex — grow together in a container . Otherwise , when acquiring manlike plants , endeavor to provide at least one for every three female plant for the skilful fruiting . Grow these in full to fond Dominicus in well - drained acidulous stain with a littleorganic fertilizer .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:5 to 7Best for : roadblock plant , border , privacy screen

13. Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata‘Winter Gold’)

Not all hollies are evergreen . The bearberry type drop ellipse leaves in winter , so only colored fruits remain to decorate bare branches . ‘ Winter Gold ’ hit sunny yellow berries on awinter shrubthat tops out at 8 feet tall ; debate it your holly berry works . And , yes , you will take a male person holly berry bush pollinator to get all those fruit . Keep in mind that holly berries are toxic and should n’t be eaten by people or positron emission tomography . They often will last into former bound if not consumed by barbaric doll first .

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:3 to 9Best for : Shrub border , Bronx cheer garden , aboriginal garden

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

A drops of gold holly bush with variegated yellow and green leaves

Photo: gardengoodsdirect.com

We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few bay window on your patio , a raised bottom , or an in - ground plot out back — and pick out the correct plants for your soil and area .

A sky pencil japanese holly bush in a home landscape.