Holly More Varieties

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Holly – More Varieties

Here are some of my favorites and not so favorites from smallest to largest:

  • Berries jubilee holly. Resembles dwarf Chinese holly, but with larges leaves and taller, more open habit. Very large, red berries. Grows to 3½ feet tall and wide. Plant a few maybe. There are better choices.

  • Dazzler holly. Similar to berries jubilee, but taller and more open growth. Very light, bright red berries. Grows 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. Again, there are several better choices.

  • Willow leaf holly (Also known as Needlepoint holly.) Same habit and size as standard Burford holly, but with flatter leaf blades and more relaxed habit. One of our more reliable producers of large, red berries.

  • East Palatka holly Leaves have only one spot spine at the end. Small white flowers in spring. Red berries in winter. Smooth, light bark. Needs good drainage and deep soil. Open graceful tree form. Height of 15-30′, spread of 10-15′

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  • Possumhaw holly Deciduous leaves similar to yaupon foliage. Growth habit similar to tree-form crape myrtles, to 12 to 15′ tall and 8 to 10′ wide. Medium-sized orange or red berries on female plants only. Variety “Warren”s Red’ has larger, redder fruit than the species.

  • Oak leaf holly One of the most popular of the red holly series. Evergreen holly with red berries in winter. It is columnar up to 8′ in height, but becomes more pyramided with maturity. Maximum height is usually around 18′. Dense, handsome holly with a spread of about 8′.

QUESTION: Which variety of holly is best for creating privacy? We would like shrubs that grow at least 20 feet tall and are planted close together. We need a barrier between us and a next-door neighbor. We have read about the “Nellie R. Stevens” and “Mary Nell” varieties. – C.P., Dallas

ANSWER: Both of those would be good in your situation, but you also should look at the “Savannah” and &lquot;East Palatka” varieties. “East Palatka” is my favorite. It will grow taller and more tree-like than the others, but it may be hard to find. “Savannah” probably will have the most berries. Some of the most impressive “Savannah” hollies in Dallas are at Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park.