Hollies for the New Orleans Garden
It is almost impossible to not notice the hollies around town as they have been putting on a show this winter. While the colorful red, sometimes orange berries are what we are noticing this time of year. Most have inconspicuous white flowers which bloom in Spring. Hollies can be used for multiple purposes in the landscape. Hollies are evergreen (occasionally deciduous) and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. There are Japanese/Chinese varieties and native varieties. Hollies can be used as specimen plantings for hedges, borders and ground cover. Most grow well in full sun to partial shade. Generally plant November through March. Fertilize in late winter with a balanced Fertilizer. A few popular recommendations include but are not limited to the following.
Chinese Hollies
Ilex cornuta or Chinese holly tolerates heat, drought and cold temperatures. Female plants provide showy berries but require a male plant nearby to provide pollen. White blooms in spring and red berries in late fall and winter. Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’ is a fast growing, large shrub that has large clusters of red to scarlet berries in Autumn and Winter. This plant does not need a male plant near by as it self seeds. Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii Nana’ is smaller than regular Burford , had red seeds and self seeds also. Ilex cornuta ‘Nellie R Stevens’ has conical form with excellent fruiting.
Japanese Hollies
Ilex crenata is a Japanese holly that is a compact shrub .It has black berries on female plants which are often hidden by the leaves. Substitute for boxwood as it makes low hedges is a good container specimen. Prefers moist, well drained soil. Ilex crenata Helleri is truly dwarf which grows with low dense spreading mass. This plant is male with no fruit.
Native Hollies
Ilex vomitoria or Yaupon Holly is a native It is a good hedge or shrub. Drought tolerant once established, it has few pests with excellent fruiting, Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’ has no fruit but widely planted as a shrub in planters and as a low hedge. Ilex vomitoria ‘Pendula’ can be a small tree or shrub. Good as accent or specimen or containers or naturalistic settings. Has prominent red berries on 2 year old wood of female plants only. Ilex x attenuata “Fosteri’ is an evergreen shrub or small tree with heavy fruiting. Pyramidal form is used as a specimen, accent, screening containers. Likes moist well drained soil. Ilex x attenuata ‘Savannah’ has one berry per stem. Pyramidal form with Yellow-green color used as a small tree or shrub. Branches close to the ground which makes it a good plant for screening.
submitted by Karen Blackburn