Woodie's Picks: Hollies To Bring The Jolliest Ambiance
If you and your home aren’t in the holiday spirit by now…it’s time to kick things into gear! And if you’re wondering what our secret is to getting festive on a time crunch, well, you can’t have a holiday display without hollies!
This week, for Woodie’s Picks, we decided to highlight four of our favorite Holly Trees and shrubs to bring everlasting cheer to your winter display and radiate beauty year-round! In this blog, we will also tap into the history and benefits that hollies provide to a landscape.
History of Holly Plants
Holly has a long history of being associated with Christmas, and its origins can be traced back to the pagan and Roman eras. Beyond its spiritual roots, the holly plant has also been seen used in famous gardens throughout history, including its incorporation into George Washington’s garden at Mount Vernon.
With various religions and significant historical figures drawing attention and symbolism to this iconic specimen, you may be wondering, what is so special about the holly plant? Well, from a landscaper’s perspective, hollies are beloved for a wide range of reasons.
Year- Round Interest
The number one reason many are drawn to planting hollies in the landscape is the year-round interest they provide in an outdoor space. Holly is one of the few plants that both stay green and produce fruit during the winter. The majority of hollies pop against the dull tones of a winter backdrop as many produce vibrant red to gold berries!
Low-Maintenance
Holly trees and shrubs are fairly slow-growing and require little pruning or upkeep to maintain their clean form. While these shrubs are not necessarily drought-tolerant, they are fairly adaptable to a range of different soil and sunlight conditions.
Versatility
The next important benefit of holly shrubs is their wide range of versatility in use throughout the landscape. Holly shrubs can be used for hedging along property lines, mixed into borders, as specimen plantings for focal points, in container gardens at a home’s entryway, and so much more.
Four Hollies For Festive Fun In The Landscape
Sky Pencil Holly
First on the list of festive hollies to upscale your Christmas Decor is a bit of an understated beauty: the Sky Pencil Holly. The shrub produces small purple to black berries in the fall, and a male pollinator is present; however, the berries are not the selling point for this popular shrub.
We love the Sky Pencil Holly for its narrow columnar shape and perfectly angular form. This deer-resistant shrub is perfect for use as a thriller in container gardens, as it works beautifully to add height and structure to patios and entryways. Plant this shrub on its own for a sleek and formal statement, or plant the shrub in mass to create a pristine hedge of evergreen foliage.
Winter Red Winterberry Holly
Next on the list is a bit more of an obvious choice, as the Winter Red Winterberry Holly just screams festive fun with its name alone! The Red Winterberry is eye-catching and bold, with its bare branches covered in large, bright red fruits in the dead of winter. This specific cultivar has been praised for holding onto its berries longer than any other winterberry shrub throughout the winter months.
As an added bonus, this holly has been said to withstand poorly drained, wet sites. The Winter Red Holly is ideal for use as a hedge, in mixed borders, or as a foundation planting. Foraged branches from the berry-producing shrubs can also be used to decorate your home around the holidays!
Nellie Stevens Holly
The Nellie Stevens Holly brings the traditional pyramidal shape of a Christmas tree with the fun and vibrant flare of dense, shiny foliage, pointed leaves, and bold red berries. It really doesn’t get more festive than this! Consider draping your holly in twinkle lights for extra magic this holiday season, or let the tree’s natural beauty steal the show!
Beyond the aesthetic appeal it brings to a landscape, the Nellie Stevens Holly is praised for its adaptability to poor soils, low-maintenance nature, and large, dense form! Hardy to USDA zones 5-9, these evergreen trees can reach a mature height nearing 20 feet tall. Their large form and pyramidal shape make them perfect for larger landscapes looking to make a bold statement!
Oakland Holly
Last on the list of iconic Hollies to bring festive flare to your holiday landscape is the Oakland Holly. The Oakland is similar to the Nellie Stevens, aside from its sharp, distinct oak leaf shape that gives it an extra edge and adds interest to a landscape. The Oakland Holly’s red berries are a favorite food source for birds, as well as a significant shelter for woodland creatures.
Perfect for both formal and informal gardens, the Oakland Holly adds reliable upright structure to your landscape. This holly variety is deer-resistant as well as resistant to various pests and diseases. The Oakland Holly is ideal for use in privacy screens and windbreaks.
Shop Festive Plants Online Today
No matter what your vision is for your winter garden, we have a wide range of plants available to bring bold color and unique beauty to your outdoor space. Shop our Winter Interest Plant Collection online today and enjoy convenient delivery directly to your doorstep!