Holly
Also known as: Ilex spp.
Poisonous — do not eat
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.
Woody plant facts
Soil preferences
Free-draining garden soil. Most shrubs fail from wet feet, not poor fertility.
5.5–7.0 for most; acid-lovers (rhododendron, blueberry) want 4.5–5.5.
Mulch a wide ring with compost or bark each spring; keep mulch off the stems.
Watering
Deep soak weekly for the first two seasons, then only in drought.
Slow soak over the root zone, not the crown.
Overwatered: yellowing leaves, dieback, sour soil. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop, sparse bloom.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water only — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering is only for tree seedlings in nursery pots (shallow tray 15 min). Established trees always get watered from above onto the soil.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — hardy shrubs handle 35–90°F once established
Down to the species' rated zone minimum
Hardy once established; first-winter seedlings need a mulch collar or cold frame.
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
10–20 gal (38–76 L) for a long-term potted shrub
Dwarf and compact forms do fine in large pots; full-size shrubs eventually need the ground.
Detailed harvesting
Nothing here is harvested for the kitchen. Wear gloves for any cutting or deadheading, keep the sap off your skin and eyes, and wash your hands and tools afterwards.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Do not dry, store or preserve any part of this plant near food. Bag prunings for the bin — never compost them where animals browse, and never burn them.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Ornamental only — this plant is poisonous and has no food, tea or home-remedy use. Grow it for looks, wear gloves, and keep it away from children, pets and livestock.
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
Mostly insect-pollinated; seedlings vary from the parent.
Not practical. Named cultivars must be grown from cuttings, not seed.
Collect ripe seed or clean berries in fall, 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.
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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