We love the song: tis the season to deck the halls with boughs of holly!

The holidays remind everyone about holly, with miniature holly plants, or using holly in winter decorations. However, if you’re only thinking about holly as decor for the holidays, you are missing out on a group of plants which look great in the garden.

There are many different varieties that you may not see on the branches with your wreaths. In fact, not all hollies are evergreen. Some will turn gold in the fall and drop their leaves for winter. With the evergreen varieties, it’s not just green. Hollies can be solid green, bright gold and even variegated. In addition, not all the berries are red; some varieties produce white, black, orange or yellow berries. Sizes of holly plants vary too.

Choosing a variety

Hollies vary in their cold hardiness. Be sure to check the zone information before you buy one. In addition, since sizes vary, be sure to consider the mature size of the plant as it relates to the spot in your garden. Many holly plant species are considered “dioecious” which means you will have to plant a male variety and a female variety if you want to have berries. One male plant can pollinate a few female plants.

The berries are toxic; keep this in mind if you have pets or small children. If you only have room for one plant, there are newer cultivars that are able to produce the berries without the cross-pollination process.

Care and culture

Hollies prefer part shade to full sun, along with moist but well drained soil. However, one species, winterberry, likes wet feet. Spring is the best time to plant a holly to give it time to establish a good root system. Check your soil pH before planting since hollies prefer acidic soil. If soil is too alkaline, the foliage will be pale and can appear stunted. Heavy clay soil can reduce the berry count. So, amend the soil with compost.

Mulching the plants will keep the roots cool and the soil moist. Feed the plants once in the spring just before the new growth starts and again after the new growth has matured for the season. Most hollies do not need regular pruning, but some pruning will help your holly grow denser. Pruning in mid to late December is a good time – just in time for some holiday decorations!

Problems

Here in the northeast, leaf desiccation can be a problem during our dry, windy winters. Leaves can shrivel and turn brown or black. Plants located in a southern exposure are especially vulnerable. As long as the stems are still firm and not shriveled, new leaves will sprout again in the spring.

You can also consider using an antidesiccant spray to seal in moisture or loosely wrap the plants in burlap to avoid the problem. Spider mites can be a problem in hot, dry summers. Look for webbing in the plant or foliage that looks speckled. A strong spray of water from the hose works great to get rid of the insects.

Many of us think about holly only during the holidays; but in reality, it is a beautiful landscape plant to be enjoyed in the garden year-round. Don’t forget to visit our website at cceoneida.com for more gardening tips and useful information.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County answers home and garden questions which can be emailed to homeandgarden@cornell.edu or call 315-736-3394, press 1 and ext. 333. Leave your question, name and phone number. Questions are answered weekdays, 8am to 4pm. Also, visit our website at http://cceoneida.com or phone 315-736-3394, press 1 and then ext. 100.