Six Sensational Hollies
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English Holly in landscape
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Few plants rival the attraction that hollies (Ilex spp.) bring to backyard birds. Hollies offer a multitude of benefits for both humans and feathered friends alike. Most species are evergreen, providing year-round attraction as well as excellent nesting and shelter sites amidst the densely covered branches — especially in winter when other plants are left leafless and barren.
If you want to attract more birds to your yard, hollies are a great place to start. Their versatility in style, wide range of heights, diversity of form and long-lasting berry display make hollies a must-have for any garden.
Stumped as to which holly to grow? Here are a few favorites to help you get started. — Kris Wetherbee
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English Holly
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Red English Holly
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Japanese Holly
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English Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Evergreen shrub or tree from 8 to 50 feet tall bears a profusion of bird-attracting berries in red, orange or yellow. Leaves are dark green or variegated, and spineless or covered in spines. Grow in partial shade in hot, dry areas; not well suited to the Deep South.
Zones 6-10
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Slow-growing evergreen trees from 40 to 100 feet tall are rounded to pyramidal in shape. Similar in appearance to the English holly, though leaves are not quite as glossy or deep-colored. Native to the eastern United States, American holly thrives in moist, acidic soil. Zones 5-9
Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta)
This evergreen shrub or tree growing 6 to 12 feet tall or more has dense rounded foliage perfect for roosting and nesting. Bright red to orange-red berries are exceptionally large and long lasting, with Burford Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta burfordii) noted for its extra heavy crops. Many varieties produce without pollination. A landscape favorite for its beauty and berries, this species is also heat and drought tolerant.
Zones 6-10
Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)
An evergreen shrub or small tree from 1 to 15 feet tall bears small, mostly glossy black berries, sometimes white or yellow. These berries provide a food feast for birds in fall. Leaves are deep green and tiny, with dense growth looking more like a boxwood than a holly. Great as a hedge, screen, foundation or barrier plant. Needs well-drained soil to succeed.
Zones 6-10
Blue Holly (Ilex x meserveae)
This cool-looking blue holly sports stunning purple stems and soft deep blue-green leaves on dense, bushy plants from 3 to 10 feet high. One of the hardiest of evergreen hollies, this group of hybrids is quite showy, with contrasting bright red berries that are relished by birds. It's disease-resistant and more tolerant of heat than other hybrids. Zones 5-10
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
These deciduous shrubs, growing from 3 to 15 feet tall, serve as nesting sites for a variety of feathered friends. Masses of highly ornamental, bright red berries ripen in fall and often persist into winter when they are readily devoured by robins, jays and other birds. This plant tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, but does best in any moist, organic soil and thrives in wet soil.
Zones 3-9