Broad Leafed Evergreens - Hollies© Marge Talt
Mar 18, 1997
Hollies (Ilex) belong to the family Aquifoliaceae. There are over 350 species native to North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, the Orient and Brazil. They range in size from dwarf shrubs to huge trees. Both evergreen and deciduous ones are readily available from local nurseries and by mail order. The evergreen varieties are the most useful as 'bones' for the garden. Many will also provide the added bonus of berries, which can be red or yellow. All hollies have alternate leaves and most have inconspicuous flowers. Generally, you need to have both male and female holly plants in the same area to have good berry crops. Hollies can be rounded, pyramidal or columnar in form. You can use various varieties for clipped hedges, naturalistic groupings or specimen plants. They are one of the garden workhorses and there is one suitable for just about every garden. Most hollies require well-drained soil and prefer full sun in northern climates, although those listed will do well in varying degrees of shade. As with most broad-leafed evergreens, they are not tolerant of drying winds. Ilex opaca(photo from the Michigan State Extension databases, which also has a list of cultivars), - American Holly, is native from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Missouri and Texas. I have several in my woods growing in fairly dense shade. In heavy shade, the form is more open than it is in more sun. This species has a pyramidal form when young, becoming more open and irregular with age. It can get 40 to 50 feet in height with a spread of 18 to 40 feet, although it is usually smaller. It is slow growing, so it takes a long time to reach full height potential. I have a couple, moved to a border about 15 years ago as small trees of about 2 feet in height. They are now about 12 feet tall. The leaf is a typical 'holly' leaf shape, with sharp spines, but of a duller green than those of other species. The females will make red berries, but you must have a male tree in the vicinity. According to Dirr, there are more than 1000 cultivar names. Some have more lustrous leaves; some are faster growing and some are more compact. There is even a yellow berry form 'Canary'. Ilex opaca is rated hardy from USDA z. 5 to 9.
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Barb, Hafta admit that I'd tend to trust Dirr over Random House(thanks Barbara!). Dirr also lived and taught, I believe, for some time at U. of Illinois, so he has experience with midwest climate and ...
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Dirr insists on acid soil (well drained but moist) and to "avoid hot, dessicating winds; preferably shade (will tolerate sun); tends to brown up very badly unless in a sheltered location; will develop ...
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
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Marge,I wondered about the soil, too. But Phillips and Rix, in The Random House Book of Shrubs, said that Mahonia aquifolium tolerates 'Any soil; sun or shade. Hardy to -20C.' Wit ...
-- posted by Barb_Dorsett
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Barbara,Interesting that Mahonia bealei is less hardy...I found my baby in the woods, obviously a present from a passing bird who must have found the parent somewhere around here. There's another ...
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Well, sometimes a test isn't necessary, like with the person who asked me if brunnera was an annual or a perennial. Sometimes it helps to know I can trust what they say about cultural information. ...
-- posted by Barb_Dorsett
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