Holly
Also known as: Ilex spp.
10 types of holly
American Holly
5–10 yearsalso: Ilex opaca, Northern American Holly
Stately evergreen native tree with spiny leaves and red berries; slow-growing but long-lived.
Cherry Holly
5–8 yearsalso: Ilex collina, Long-stalk Holly, Longstalk Holly
Rare Appalachian native with long-stalked leaves and red fruit; prefers acidic woodland soils.
Chinese Holly
4–8 yearsalso: Ilex cornuta, Horned Holly
Evergreen shrub with spiny, rectangular leaves; heavy berry producer and popular hedge plant.
English Holly
5–10 yearsalso: Ilex aquifolium, European Holly
Classic spiny evergreen holly with bright red berries; traditional Christmas greenery.
Japanese Holly
4–8 yearsalso: Ilex crenata, Box-Leaved Holly
Dense evergreen shrub with small boxwood-like leaves; widely used for sheared hedges and topiary.
Longstalk Holly
4–8 yearsalso: Ilex pedunculosa
Asian evergreen with slender leaves and long berry stalks; elegant specimen or hedge.
Mountain Holly
3–6 yearsalso: Ilex mucronata, Swamp Holly, Catberry
Deciduous holly of eastern wetlands with small red berries; tolerates wet acidic soils.
Possumhaw
3–6 yearsalso: Ilex decidua, Deciduous Holly, Meadow Holly, Swamp Holly
Small deciduous tree with abundant red or orange berries persisting through winter.
Winterberry
3–5 yearsalso: Ilex verticillata, Common Winterberry
Deciduous North American native famous for brilliant red winter berries on bare stems.
Yaupon Holly
3–5 yearsalso: Ilex vomitoria, Yaupon, Cassina
Southeastern evergreen holly; leaves contain caffeine and were used historically for a ceremonial tea.
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Remove pulp from berries and sow cleaned seed in deep pots. Cold-moist stratify 2–4 months, then move to warmth. Germination can be slow and irregular — patience is required. Transplant seedlings to a permanent site once large enough.
Pre-sow treatment
Cold-moist stratify 60–120 days; some species need a second warm-cold cycle.
Grower's tip
Most hollies are dioecious — you need a male pollinator nearby for female plants to set the showy winter berries.
Soil preferences
Deep, well-drained native soil. Avoid amending the planting hole heavily — roots should learn to grow into the surrounding earth.
5.5–7.5 depending on species (conifers lean acidic; most hardwoods neutral).
Top-dress with compost and mulch in a wide ring; don't backfill with pure compost.
Watering
Deep soak weekly the first two years while roots establish; taper once the tree self-supports.
Slow trickle at the drip line, not the trunk. A 5-gal bucket with a pinhole is ideal.
Overwatered: yellowing, root rot, mushroom collar. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop.
Prefers top-watering — Trees are always top-watered — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering only makes sense for nursery seedlings.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — most species tolerate 40–90°F once established
Down to species-rated USDA zone minimum
Hardy once established; young seedlings need protection their first winter.
Special germination requirements
Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
Deep tree pots (root trainers) for the first 1–2 seasons; permanent site required for full growth.
Only dwarf, patio, or bonsai forms live long-term in containers.
Detailed harvesting
Not applicable for ornamental/timber trees. Nut and fruit species — pick when they drop naturally.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Nuts: keep damp and cool, sow promptly. Winged/coned seed: dry, cool, dark in a sealed jar.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Shade, windbreak, wildlife habitat, timber, ornament, and long-term carbon storage.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Wind- or insect-pollinated; seedlings rarely match the parent exactly (especially named cultivars — those must be grafted or cutting-grown).
Not practical for trees. Expect variation.
Collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean, dry or keep damp per species, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for holly in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
From your kitchen — grow holly from what you already have
Trees usually mean patience — collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean pulp off, and give most species a cold winter (real or in the fridge) before they'll germinate.
- 1Collect ripe seed/nuts/cones in autumn from a healthy parent.
- 2Clean off any fleshy pulp; dry cones warm to release seed.
- 3Cold-stratify in a bag of damp sand or peat in the fridge (34–41°F) for the time listed on the species.
- 4Sow in deep tree pots and grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent spot.
Storage: Most tree seed keeps 1–3 years cool and dry; oak/hickory/chestnut nuts must stay damp and be sown promptly.
My Holly notes
Holly seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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