There are hundreds of different kinds of holly bushes, so you can pick one that fits your needs. They look great in winter landscapes because of their shiny green leaves, bright berries, and holiday-like look. It’s helpful to know what you’re getting when you add holly to your garden. This visual guide will show you pictures of different kinds of holly bush to help you figure out what they are.
American Holly
The American Holly (Ilex opaca) is one of the most classic Christmas hollies. It has distinctive spiny, deep green leaves and produces bright red berries that provide winter interest.
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In the wild, American Hollies can grow over 60 feet tall but are commonly seen around 25-40 feet in landscapes. This variety thrives in moist, acidic soil and is hardy in USDA zones 5-9.
English Holly
English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is another iconic holiday holly known for its glossy green foliage and abundant red berries, Its leaves are a little shinier than the American Holly,
![English Holly Bush][]
It can grow 10 to 40 feet tall and does best in slightly acidic soil. It prefers partial shade and tolerates clay soil well. Its hardiness ranges from zones 6-8.
Inkberry Holly
Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra) is an evergreen variety perfect for adding winter interest. It produces black berries on dark green elliptical leaves.
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This compact shrub grows just 6-10 feet tall. It thrives in moist, acidic soil and is hardy down to zone 5. Inkberry works nicely in woodland garden settings.
Winterberry Holly
Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) lights up the winter landscape with its vibrant red berries. This deciduous variety drops its leaves in autumn to reveal the fruit.
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Winterberry Holly grows in zones 3–9 and can grow 3–15 feet tall. It requires a male pollinator to produce the bold berries. Rich, moist soil is ideal.
Blue Holly
Blue Holly (Ilex x meserveae) adds year-round color with its purple stems and blue-tinged leaves. Blue Princess is a popular female cultivar.
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This broadleaf evergreen grows up to 15 feet tall. Blue hollies thrive in zones 5-8 and appreciate moist, acidic soil. Plant Blue Princess near Blue Prince for red berries.
Dwarf Chinese Holly
Ilex cornuta ‘Rotunda’, or Dwarf Chinese Holly, is a round shrub that looks great in foundations and borders. It has small, spiny leaves and produces black berries.
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Dwarf Chinese Holly reaches just 2-4 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. It tolerates drought, pollution, and a variety of soils. Zones 6-9 are recommended.
Japanese Holly
Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata) is an evergreen shrub prized for its small, boxwood-like foliage. Popular cultivars include ‘Sky Pencil’ and ‘Soft Touch.’
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Japanese Holly grows slowly to 5-10 feet tall and wide. It does best in organically rich, acidic soil and appreciates some afternoon shade in hot zones (5-8).
Possumhaw Holly
Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua) is a deciduous shrub known for its bright red berries and brilliant fall color. Plants reach 10 feet tall and wide.
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Possumhaw thrives in zones 5-9. It appreciates moist, acidic soil but adapts to varying conditions. Fruit production requires a male pollinator.
Meserve Hybrids
Meserve Hybrid Hollies result from crossing Chinese Hollies with English Holly. Cultivars like ‘Blue Princess’ are densely branched evergreens.
![Meserve Hybrid Holly][]
Meserve Hybrids grow 10-15 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. They thrive in full sun to partial shade and enrich the winter landscape with red berries.
Yaupon Holly
Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) is a fast-growing evergreen shrub native to the southeastern United States. It has smooth, oval leaves and produces red berries.
Yaupon Holly can reach 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide, but compact cultivars are available. It tolerates drought, salt, and clay soil. Zones 7-10 are recommended.
There are many gorgeous holly bushes to choose from for American gardens. Use this visual guide to identify holly plants in your own landscape. With lush greenery, brilliant berries, and striking shapes, hollies make excellent additions to any yard.
How to Buy Holly Trees
The Tree Center tends to early Holly Tree specimens carefully, offering only the most meticulous Hollies, including the American Holly and Nellie Stevens Holly, the two most popular Holly Trees. Buying Holly Trees from The Tree Center ensures the trees initial care will encourage future growth coupled with proper care and planting at home.
Flower Color
The Holly Tree, often associated with the winter season, is also well-known among landscapers and cultivators as the perfect privacy tree. With between 400 and 600 different species within the genus, The Holly Tree has everything from climbing vines and shrubs to both evergreen and deciduous trees. Holly Trees create dense hedges, which form privacy barriers around homes. There are many kinds of Holly trees grown and planted in the United States. The most common are the American Holly and the Nellie Stevens Holly. Both species offer ornamental and privacy benefits, and these species are typically found in the east from eastern Massachusetts south to central Florida and west to California, stretching up as far north as Washington in the far west and Kansas in the central United States.
Hollies are also especially fast-growing, with Nellie Stevens Holly topping the list at 3 feet per year. These fast-growing privacy trees are often pruned as hedges, blocking out unwanted noise and intrusions. Many species can grow up to 50 feet tall, but many landscapers cut the tree down to a height that is easier to work with. Hollies can also be planted individually as ornamental trees, accenting gardens and entryways.
Although Holly Trees are adaptable and easy-to-grow, it is important to prepare before purchasing them or any tree. Different species of tree require different types of soil, watering schedules, and planting locations. While Holly Trees are pretty easy to grow, it’s still a good idea to quickly read over what they need before getting into the specifics in the sections that follow.
All About Holly Bushes | Ask This Old House
FAQ
Where is the best place to plant holly bushes?
Avoid planting when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. Holly shrubs can be grown in well-drained soil in sun or shaded areas of the garden. They thrive in moist soil but not waterlogged.
What are the downsides of holly bushes?
Holly bushes, while beautiful and often used for privacy screens or hedges, do have some potential downsides. These include the need for regular pruning, the messiness of dropped berries, and the potential for toxicity to humans and pets.
How to identify a holly bush?
Plant description Leaves are thick, glossy, dark green, and wavy. Leaves usually have sharp spines along the edges, but they might be smooth on older branches.
How big do holly bushes get?
Holly bushes come in a wide range of sizes, from small dwarf varieties just a few feet tall to large trees reaching 50 feet or more. The size depends on the specific type of holly and the growing conditions.