Holly tree and bushes are bombastic shrubs or trees , many of which have thick , glossy , spiky leaves , small white flowers , and yellow , orangish , black , or red berries . Although most species of hollies are evergreen industrial plant , there are some deciduous holly bushes that drop their leave in winter . The most common holly species are the American Charles Hardin Holley ( Ilex opaca ) and the English holly ( Ilex aquifolium ) . Both of these evergreen holly trees are famous for their shiny , jaggy parting and winter red berries .
There are around 480 species of holly plants that mature in semitropical or temperate region of the world . Holly plant can beevergreen or deciduous . The various types of holly let in large tree , shaggy shrubs , and dwarf cultivar . Holly shrub also makeideal surety hedgesdue to their sharp , spiked leaves and dense leafage .
Theberries on holly treesare gently toxic to humans . Although wildlife can consume holly berries , the tiny colorful yield can cause stomach upset , looseness , vomiting , and drowsiness if humans deplete them . Because holly berries are poisonous , it ’s best not to engraft holly bush where children play .
This article is a guide to the best case of holly tree diagram and bushes for growing in your garden . description and pictorial matter of holly plant life will help you make up one’s mind on the best type of holly for an evergreen landscape .
Types of Holly Plants
Holly plants belong to the genusIlexand the familyAquifoliaceae . Holly are classed as dioecian plants , meaning that male and distaff heyday grow on different industrial plant . Holly trees can grow between 30 and 80 ft . ( 10 – 24 m ) marvellous . However , holly bushes typically grow up to 6 ft . ( 1.8 m ) marvellous and are multi - cauline plants .
Evergreen Holly Plants
Most plants in the holly family areevergreen shrubsor trees . The evergreen holly plant are generally recognizable by their thickset , glossy leave with sharp-worded spines along the margin . Thethorny evergreen shrubsalso add color to drab wintertime landscape with their clusters of colorful Berry and shiny foliage .
Deciduous Holly Plants
The most rough-cut deciduous holly plant is the native winterberry bush . The slow - growing deciduous holly shrub leaves may turn maroon in the gloam before the leafage drop . Then abundant shiny red berry growing on bare stem add plenty of color throughout the winter until the follow spring when the dark-green leaves start to grow back .
Dwarf Holly Shrubs
Dwarf holly shrubs are ideal plants for succinct gardens , evergreen hedge , or growing in containers . Thedwarf shrubshave all the recognizable feature film of the larger bushes and trees . In improver , spiky , evergreen leafage and clump of red Berry make midget holly shrubs popular for wintertime gardens .
Holly Leaves
Holly leaves can be spiked or still , green or variegate
Holly leaves are typically ovate or oblong , shining green with rippled margins that are spiked , serrated , or smooth . Looking at holly tree diagram or holly bush leaves is one of the best ways to place individualIlexspecies . For good example , leaves on English holly and American holly are ovate with sharp spine on the wavy border .
Holly plants with leaves that have few or no spines include the gall-berry holly tree ( Ilex glabra ) , American gutless holly ( Ilex opaca ) , Japanese holly ( Ilex crenata ) , and deciduous American winterberry holly bush ( Ilex verticillata ) .
Some of the most spectacular smorgasbord of Buddy Holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and bushes are variegate cultivar . Most type of variegate Buddy Holly plant have sheeny dark to light up green leaves with creamy yellow perimeter . In addition , there are variegated holly bush with spiky parting or give with unruffled margins .
Holly Flower
Holly flowers
Holly flowers are inconspicuous green - bloodless peak made up of four petals . The works ’s heyday can aid identify female Buddy Holly plants apart from male efflorescence . look up closely , pictures of virile holly flora flowers show they have longer stamen than female holly flowers .
Male ilex aquifolium flower ( left ) and distaff flowers ( veracious ) . The female heyday produce Berry
Holly Berries
The uneatable berry - like fruits of holly are usually red but can be other color
Holly Berry are one of the most recognizable feature of speech of works in theIlexgenus . Botanically speaking , the yield on holly plants are tiny rotund drupe , not Berry . However , most people pertain to holly fruit as berry .
Holly berries appear in the fall and mature in winter . The uneatable berry are typically shades of red , orange , smutty , or brown . In rare cases , species of holly plant life produce green or chickenhearted berries . Holly berries usually stay on the evergreen plant President Bush throughout the wintertime .
It is not secure to eat the violent Berry from a holly bush or tree diagram . According toscientists , holly berries — especially fromIlex aquifolium(English holly ) andIlex opaca(American holly)—contain toxins that can do nausea , vomit , stomach cramps , and dermatitis . However , poisoning from holly berries is usually harmless .
Holly Identification
The good manner to identify holly tree and bushes is by look at the leaves and berry . Individual mintage of hollies have distinctive glossy leave with wavy gross profit margin and jagged prickle , small blunt points , or smooth edge . Also , species of female holly trees are identifiable by the berries they produce because virile holly do n’t grow berry .
Types of Holly Trees (With Pictures)
have ’s look in more point at common varieties of holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree suited for evergreen winter landscapes .
American Holly Tree (Ilex opaca)
American Buddy Holly tree ( Ilex opaca )
The American holly is a marvellous tree diagram with slow , dark green leathery will with spiny margins and orange to red berries appearing in the fall . The American Buddy Holly tree take care like the English holly and is often used for Christmas decorations . The grandiloquent holly tree has an undetermined , pyramidal shape .
Evergreen American holly trees are also called the Christmas holly .
Sun exposure : abstruse shadeto full Sunday
Size:40 to 60 ft . ( 12 – 18 m ) high and up to 20 ft . ( 6 m ) all-encompassing
USDA zones:5 to 9
Holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree leaves : American holly tree diagram leaves are dull unripened and prickly that touchstone up to 4 ” ( 10 atomic number 96 ) long and 3 ” ( 7.5 cm ) wide .
Holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree berry : American Buddy Holly tree berry are shades of orange tree to bolshie and rise among the evergreen foliation from September until February .
Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)
Yaupon holly ( Ilex vomitoria )
The yaupon holly is a small evergreen tree diagram or large shrub with little glossy , dark light-green foliage , clustering of whitish flowers , and shiny crimson berries . The identifying feature of the yaupon holly is its small , rounded leave of absence that do n’t have an apex . The dense , evergreen leafage makes this hollyplant nonesuch for a hedgerow , windbreak , or screen .
The yaupon holly tree is a multi - stemmed bush - like Buddy Holly tree with its dense foliage paragon for growing as a dense hedgerow .
A gnome variety of yaupon holly is the ‘ Nana ’ cultivar which has compact , rounded emergence . The obtuse evergreen bush acquire up to 5 foot . ( 1.5 m ) tall and 6 ft . ( 1.8 m ) circularize and is a popular landscape plant life that can be used for topiary .
Ilex vomitoria ‘ Nana ’
Sun exposure : Full sunshine to part shade
Size:10 to 20 ft . ( 3 – 6 m )
USDA zones:7 to 9
Holly tree leaves : Yaupon holly tree leaves are rounded and small , only measuring 1 ” ( 2.5 cm ) long and 0.5 ” ( 1.2 centimeter ) wide .
Holly tree berries : Yaupon holly tree berries are showy Burgundy wine or red stone fruit that turn in magnanimous clusters .
Dahoon Holly Tree (Ilex cassine)
Dahoon holly tree diagram ( Ilex cassine )
The dahoon holly is a small evergreen tree with ovate to ellipse politic unripened leave with more or less serrated hint and brilliant red winter berries . Unlike vulgar varieties of holly trees , the dahoon holly does n’t have spiky leaves . The Buddy Holly is identifiable by its xanthous - white fragrant outpouring flower clusters .
The dahoon holly is a slow - growing holly tree .
Sun pic : Partial shade or full Dominicus
Size:20 to 30 ft . ( 3 – 9 m ) improbable and up to 15 ft . ( 4.5 m ) wide
USDA zones:7 to 11
Holly tree bequeath : The dahoon holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree leaf are elongate obovate - shaped with a pointed ending at the radical and serration at the rounded tip .
Holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree berries : The dahoon holly tree berries are a red - orange color and turn in characteristic bunch .
Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta)
Chinese Buddy Holly ( Ilex cornuta )
The Taiwanese Buddy Holly is native to Asia and has long , shiny green , briary leaves , dark red berry - similar fruits , and blank flowers with four diminutive flower petal . The identifiable feature of Chinese holly trees is their strange rectangular leaves with two to four spike that face like bull saddle horn . In addition , the small Formosan holly tree has a rounded , vase - mold jacket .
The Chinese holly tree is classified as a small tree or large shrub . Its dense , spiky foliation means this holly tree is ideal as an impenetrable hedge , aliveness fencing , or privacy barrier .
Sun exposure : Full Sunday to partial shade
Size:8 to 15 ft . ( 2.4 – 4.5 MB )
Holly tree leaves : Chinese holly tree leaves are dark green , glazed leaves in a rectangular shape with two or more backbone .
Holly tree berry : Chinese holly tree berry are red and grow in clusters between calendered foliage .
Oak Leaf Holly (Ilex x‘Conaf’)
Oak foliage Buddy Holly ( Ilex x ‘ Conaf ’ )
The oakleaf holly is a humble tree diagram with calendered green leave-taking that reckon like spiky oak tree diagram leaves . Apart from its prickly , lancelike leaves , the identifying feature article of the oakleaf holly tree is its orangey - crimson berries that stay on the evergreen Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree throughout winter .
The oak foliage holly tree has an upright , pyramidal form . raise the oak leaf holly plant asfoundation plantings , an evergreen delimitation , or privacy hedge .
Sun pic : Full sun or light shade
Size:15 to 20 foot . ( 4.5 – 6 m ) tall and up to 15 ft . ( 4.5 m ) wide
USDA zones:6 to 9
Holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree leaves : oak tree leafage holly tree leave are 3.5 ” ( 9 centimeter ) long and are coriaceous , green ovate leaves with burry margins . New parting emerge from bronze to Bourgogne .
Holly tree diagram berries : oak tree leaf holly tree diagram berries are various nuance of orange or red .
English Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
English holly ( Ilex aquifolium )
The popular English Charles Hardin Holley Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is celebrated for its colored calendered green prickly leave , clusters of bright violent berries , and winter ornament . The English holly is usually used for Christmas decorations in Europe . To insure you get shiny scarlet berries , you want to plant a manful and distaff holly tree .
The botanical name for the English holly means acerate leaf foliage . It describes the sharp barbed leave of absence , make this President Bush nonesuch as a security hedge .
Sun pic : Full sun or partial shade
Size:30 to 50 foot . ( 9 – 15 m ) tall and 15 to 25 ft . ( 4.5 – 7.6 megabyte ) wide
Holly tree leaves : English holly tree leave-taking are sheeny green wavy leaves measuring up to 3 ” ( 7.5 cm ) long in an elliptical shape with spiked margins .
Holly tree diagram berry : English holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree berries are yellow , orange , burgundy , or scarlet .
Eagleston Holly (Ilex x‘Eagleston’)
Eagleston holly ( Ilex x ‘ Eagleston ’ )
The Eagleston holly tree is a loan-blend of the American Buddy Holly and dahoon holly . The small Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has shining green leaf with cushy spines and cherry-red winter Chuck Berry . The Eagleston holly has a pyramidal cap with evergreen plant leaf that calculate attractive all year long .
Size:20 ft . ( 6 m ) tall and 14 foot . ( 4.2 m ) wide
Holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree leaves : Eagleston holly tree leave are green egg-shaped leaf and sometimes have midget short yellowish spine along the margins .
Holly tree berries : Eagleston holly tree berry are shining red and persist throughout the winter .
Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)
Nipponese holly ( Ilex crenata )
The Japanese holly is a lowly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or large shrub with a rounded crown and small round leave like boxwood and black Charles Edward Berry - like drupes . The evergreen Nipponese holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is one of the stout Buddy Holly trees and is relatively insubordinate to disease . arise it for foundation planting , evergreen plant hedge , or a specimen tree .
Ilex crenata berries are black-market
Size:4 to 10 ft . ( 1.2 – 3 m ) tall and across-the-board
USDA zones:5 to 7
Holly tree leaves : Nipponese holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree leaves are small and oval , like plant leaves from theBuxusgenus .
Holly tree berries : Nipponese holly tree berries are bombastic , black , rounded fruit that look like with child blackcurrants .
Sky Pencil Holly (Ilex crenata‘Sky Pencil’)
Sky Pencil holly ( Ilex crenata ‘ Sky Pencil ’ )
The sky pencil holly flora is atall , skinny treeor grandiloquent , narrow holly bush with low oval leave like box plants . The identifying features of the sky pencil holly are its narrow increment , small leaf , and showy shameful fruit . Growing a sky pencil holly tree is idealistic for tally an evergreen plant vertical emphasis to a garden landscape .
Size:4 to 10 ft . ( 1.2 – 3 m ) tall and 1 to 3 foot . ( 0.3 – 1 m ) wide
USDA zones:5 to 8
Holly tree go forth : Glossy green ellipse leaves that are 1 ” ( 2.5 cm ) long .
Holly tree berry : Round black Charles Edward Berry - similar drupes that grow underneath the evergreen leafage .
Tall Inkberry Holly (Ilex coriacea)
Tall Inkberry holly ( Ilex coriacea )
The tall inkberry holly tree is an evergreen holly implant with oval-shaped oblong leaves , serrated perimeter , and dark red or black ball-shaped Charles Edward Berry . The small flowering evergreen tree diagram produce well as a hedgerow or specimen plant in a garden landscape .
Size:20 ft . ( 6 m )
Holly tree leaves : Prickly , leathery , shiny sorry green leaves that are 3 ” ( 7.5 cm ) long and an ovate to oval shape .
Holly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree berries : Small bright grim oblong fruits .
Nellie Stevens Holly Tree (Ilex‘Nellie Stevens’)
Nellie Stevens holly ( Ilex ‘ Nellie Stevens ’ )
The Nellie Stevens holly tree has a conic shape of dense , dark immature , glossy foliage , bright red berries , and white spring flowers . The Nellie Stevens is a pop landscaping shrub - like tree for its glazed appearing and ease of charge . Grow as an evergreen plant screen to keep out undesirable intruders or wildlife .
Size:20 to 30 foot . ( 6 – 10 m ) tall and up to 15 ft . ( 15 m ) full
Holly tree diagram leaves : dour gullible , waxy leaves that are 2.5 ” ( 6.5 curium ) long with five to six prickle on each side .
Holly tree diagram berry : Clusters of crimson berries in the winter .
Types of Holly Bushes (With Pictures)
Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)
possum haw holly ( Ilex verticillata )
The winterberry holly is a large deciduous shrub with obscure green , tooth - edge leaves , light-green - white flowers , and showy , bright reddish berries . The abundance of red berries in winter commit this rounded bush an attractive appearance despite not having leaf . Plant this Charles Hardin Holley species as a hedge , foundation planting , or delimitation bush .
Size:3 to 15 foot . ( 1 – 4.5 m ) tall and 3 to 12 ft . ( 1 – 3.6 yard ) wide
USDA zones:3 to 9
Holly bush leave : Dark green obovate - influence leave-taking with toothed margins appraise 2 ” to 3 ” ( 5 – 7.5 cm ) long .
Holly bush berries : An copiousness of showy scarlet red berry that look stunning throughout winter on au naturel branches .
Inkberry Holly Bush (Ilex glabra)
Inkberry holly bush ( Ilex glabra )
The gall-berry holly shrub has leathery obovate leaves , inconspicuous yellow flower , and cat valium - inglorious Charles Edward Berry growing abundantly among evergreen foliage . Also foretell the gallberry bush , inkberry pubic hair have a broadly speaking rounded form and do n’t maturate too tall . As an alternative to boxwood bush , inkberry shrubs are ideal low - spring up put off plants .
Ilex glabra berries
Several dwarf inkberry holly bush cultivars include ‘ Strongbox , ’ ‘ Compacta , ’ ‘ Shamrock , ’ and ‘ Gem Box . ’
Size:5 to 8 foot . ( 1.5 – 2.4 m ) marvelous and wide
USDA zones:4 to 9
Holly bush leaves : Inkberry holly bush leaves are 1.5 ” ( 3.8 cm ) long , ovate to elliptic shape , with a benighted dark-green glossy refulgency .
Holly bush berries : Inkberry holly bush Berry are black , pea - sized drupes that grow abundantly on offshoot .
Blue Holly (Ilex × meserveae)
Ilex meserveae ‘ Blue Princess ’
Blue holly is a large bush or lowly tree with glossy green , point leaves with prickle on the margins and glistening crimson crimson berries . Several blue Buddy Holly cultivars have beautiful bluish - green shiny foliage . An identifying feature of dispirited holly cultivar is their purplish stem that grow evergreen plant leaves .
Size:3 to 6 foot . ( 1 – 1.8 m ) tall and 8 to 15 foot . ( 2.4 – 4.5 m ) wide , depending on the cultivar
USDA zones:3 to 7
Holly bush leaves : patrician holly leaves are dark green to blue , measure 1 ” to 2.5 ” ( 2.5 – 6 cm ) long , and have four to eight rachis on each margin .
Holly bush berries : Blue holly berries are orotund red berry that are on the bush throughout winter .
Longstalk Holly (Ilex pedunculosa)
Longstalk holly ( Ilex pedunculosa )
The longstalk holly bush is a broadleaved evergreen plant flora with shiny dark-green fluid leaves without any serration or spines on the boundary . The distinct feature of this holly is its retentive , droop leafy stalk . In add-on , the long cernuous shuck feature clustering of red Chuck Berry throughout winter .
Size:10 to 20 ft . ( 3 – 6 m ) grandiloquent with a spread of 10 to 15 ft . ( 3 – 4.5 m )
Holly bush leaves : Longstalk holly leaves have smooth perimeter , a lustrous greenish shine , and measure 1 ” to 3 ” ( 2.5 – 7.5 centimeter ) long .
Holly bush berries : An copiousness of red berries farm on cernuous stems .
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