Tis the season to be jolly and it tis the season I seem to notice holly even though it is around me all year long. I think the reason I do not notice it is because it usually is part of many gardeners or home owners landscape that has so many other plants, shrubs and flowers blooming at other times during different seasons and then, after all those seasons have past and the trees start to loose their leaves there stands the stately holly with its shiny dark green leaves and clusters of bright red berries.
If you are thinking of adding holly bushes to your garden or landscape make sure you know where you want them to be simply because they do not transplant well. Figure out their place which should be in a partially shady area with fertile loam and a humid atmosphere.
Consider buying good healthy bushes that have a good height to them because holly grows very slowly and should you be trying to do some serious landscaping small holly bushes will remain small while everything else in your plan may be growing in leaps and bounds.
Most of us can easily recognize English holly or acuifolium, which originated in Europe and Asia , has dark shiny green spined leaves and cluster of bright red berries. This shrub can be cultivated to grow into a tree that might get to be about forty feet tall over its or your live time. You can clip or trim this tree easily, but it is a very expensive hedge is that is what you have in mind.
The holly one sees in the wet soils or moist woodlands of the South is usually the Dahoon or cassine holly either in shrub form or as a tree that might grow as tall as 25 feet. This holly also has bright red berries, but its leaves are light green oval shaped.
Should you be looking for a shorter tree or bush then consider the Horned Holly or cornuta which has oblong leaves and a few long spines. This one is best for zones that have a lot of heat and dry air.
In Florida one can find the Yaupon Holly or vomitoris as its Latin name is. The branches are more rigid and horizontal and are completely surrounded by scarlet berries. This can easily grow to be a 25 foot tall tree, but is often used as hedging in Florida and especially along the Gulf coast. Should a frost hit this shrub it will simply drop its small oval leaves and then recover.
Consider adding this shrub/tree to your landscaping or gardens and it will serve you well for years.
"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,
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