Choosing a holly

According to the pruning

Hollies generally grow quite slowly and depending on the cultivars, can reach heights of 50 cm to 10 m, or even 15 m at maturity. This highlights the significant difference between dwarf hollies found in species Ilex crenata, native to Japan, and Ilex x meserveae, hybrids produced in the United States, and the larger hollies, which belong to the species Ilex aquifolium, the common holly.

• Dwarf hollies (maximum 70 cm)

Some hollies are particularly small, not exceeding 70 cm in height at 10 years. This is the case for Ilex crenata with boxwood-like leaves, ‘Blondie’ and ‘Stokes’, which measure 60 cm and 50 cm at maturity, respectively. The Ilex crenata ‘Glorie Dwarf’ and Ilex meserveae ‘Gentle’ are also very different but share the same height at maturity: 70 cm.

→ Read also: Dwarf hollies: varieties to structure your garden and terrace.

• Hollies under 1.20 m

This category mainly includes Ilex crenata, such as ‘Convexed Gold’ with convex, golden foliage, or ‘Golden Gem’, which is also very golden, and ‘Lingold’ with variegated golden yellow foliage. ‘Green Lustre’ has dark, glossy green leaves. There is also a Ilex meserveae, Ilex meserveae ‘Little Rascal’ with beautiful dentate and thorny foliage, but not prickly, male. These hollies measure between 80 and 90 cm in height at maturity.

• Hollies 1.5 m to 5 m tall

This size category includes the majority of hollies, often around 3 to 4 m tall at maturity. This means that all species and types of holly leaves are represented here. Discover the chestnut-leaved holly, Ilex koehneana ‘Castaenifolia’, which reaches 5 m in height, and the myrtle-leaved holly, Ilex aquifolium ‘Myrtifolia’, which grows between 3 and 4 m. North American hollies, Ilex x meserveae and Ilex verticillata, have a compact growth. Many cultivars of American holly have been developed, for example, Ilex meserveae ‘Blue Angel’ and Ilex meserveae ‘Blue Princess’, which reach heights of 3 or 4 m at maturity. Whorled hollies, such as Ilex verticillata ‘Maryland Beauty’, are quite small, around 2 m. The common holly, Ilex aquifolium, typically reaches around 5 m in height, while a variegated variety, Ilex aquifolium ‘Silver Queen’, peaks at 3 m. As a replacement for boxwood, Ilex crenata ‘Dark Gem’ or ‘Ilex crenata ‘Fastigiata’, with a columnar habit, both reach 2.5 m in height.

• Hollies over 6 m tall

Some hollies exceed 6 m in height and can sometimes reach up to 10 m, or even 15 m. This includes Ilex ‘Golden King’, and among the aquifolium, Ilex aquifolium ‘Argenteomarginata’ with spiny, silver-variegated foliage and ‘JC Van Tol’. Finally, this is also the case for ‘Alaska’, the tallest of them all.

Ilex meserveae ‘Gentle’ (70 cm), Ilex crenata ‘Lingold’ (1 m) and Ilex meserveae ‘Blue Princess’ (4.5 m)

According to the colour of the fruits

Holly is well known for its red fruits and spiny leaves, symbols of the Christmas season. It is the common holly or Ilex aquifolium, native to Europe and found in our woodlands, that represents this plant.

Most species of holly are dioecious: to have fruits, you need a female plant that bears fruit thanks to the proximity of a male plant that pollinates it. However, there are also self-fertile varieties, which have flowers of both sexes on the same plant. The fruits, about 1 cm in diameter, are drupes with 4 stones and not berries. They are shiny and come in vermilion red, dark red, orange, yellow, or black. They can persist on the plant throughout winter until March, unless devoured by birds, which cherish them as food.

• Self-fertile female hollies with red fruits

The Ilex rotunda ‘Red Dot’, a French variety of a species native to Asia, with very abundant fruits, or the common holly, Ilex aquifolium ‘JC- Van-Tol’, are self-fertile varieties that produce red fruits.

• Dioecious hollies with red fruits

Red fruits are found in the female varieties of common hollies (aquifolium), North American hollies Ilex x meserveae and Ilex verticillata (whorled holly), such as the variety Ilex verticillata ‘Maryland Beauty’. For Ilex aquifolium, opt for female varieties like ‘Alaska’ or ‘Argenteomarginata’, for example. For Ilex x meserveae, which produce very abundant red fruits, choose the varieties ‘Mesid’ or ‘Blue Princess’. Don’t forget to plant a male plant, which can pollinate up to 5 female plants. For x meserveae, a male selection is ‘Blue Prince’. For Ilex verticillata, we can mention ‘Southern Gentleman’.

• Hollies with black fruits

Female plants of Ilex crenata produce shiny black fruits if pollinated by a male plant. For example, the female variety ‘Caroline Upright’.

• Hollies with orange or yellow fruits

Holly fruits are generally black or red, but sometimes orange, as in the female whorled holly ‘Magical Daydream’, which can be pollinated by a male plant like ‘Southern Gentleman’ to achieve fantastic fruiting. It should be noted that whorled hollies, Ilex verticillata, are deciduous. Therefore, from November, when the foliage has fallen, the fruits adorn bare branches. For hollies with yellow fruits, consider Ilex aquifolium ‘Amber’.

Ilex verticillata ‘Magical Daydream’, Ilex aquifolium ‘Alaska’, Ilex crenata ‘Convexa’

Depending on the type and colour of the foliage

The foliage of holly is highly elegant. Beyond the common holly, the green holly, Ilex aquilifolium, with its well-known leaf present in our imaginations and forests, various species and varieties of holly exhibit diverse and ornamental foliage forms. This genus has undergone numerous selections based on the shape and colour of the foliage. There are leaves that are simple, ovate, lanceolate, slightly or coarsely dentate, spiny or not, of various sizes and shades ranging from dark green, very glossy or tinged with bluish grey, to variegated cream-pink or golden or purple foliage. Most species are evergreen.

• Japanese hollies: Ilex crenata and Ilex maximowicziana

Let’s start with the one whose leaf is the least interesting, Ilex crenata, with its small, ovate, leathery foliage, resembling boxwood, making it a practical substitute for the now ailing boxwood, decimated by boxwood moth. There are varieties with golden foliage such as ‘Golden Gem’ and ‘Convexed Gold’, with light yellow foliage like ‘Blondie’, or variegated golden yellow foliage like the variety ‘Lingold’. Also noteworthy is Ilex maximowicziana ‘Kanehirae’, a Japanese holly of a different species, growing faster than Ilex crenata.

• European hollies: Ilex aquifolium

Our common holly bears glossy, undulate, dentate leaves with sharp thorns, dark green in colour. Its foliage is already remarkable in the typical species; however, several varieties exhibit particularly decorative variegated foliage. This is the case for Ilex aquifolium ‘Argenteomarginata’, beautifully edged in pale yellow. ‘Silver Queen’ features foliage edged in white, suffused with pink at bud burst. ‘Ingramii’ has charming speckled young leaves where white is sometimes dominant, flecked with pink-red. In Ilex aquifolium, one can also find the very beautiful leaves of the Myrtle-leaved holly, Ilex aquifolium ‘Myrtifolia’, finely cut and moderately spiny.

• American hollies: Ilex x meserveae and verticillata

Derived from a cross between Japanese and European hollies, these hybrid hollies produced in North America develop leaves that are often ovate, glossy, dentate, but not spiny, dark, with glaucous reflections on purple stems. Some varieties have the word “blue” in their name, such as ‘Blue Princess’, their bluish colouration being accentuated. Other varieties display lovely purple hues in autumn, such as ‘Gentle’ and ‘Little Rascal’. The Ilex verticillata have deciduous foliage, which is stunning in autumn when it takes on orange, copper, and purple hues before falling. Notable is ‘Maryland Beauty’.

• The Chestnut-leaved holly: Ilex koehneana ‘Castaenifolia’

This holly is adorned with foliage reminiscent of chestnut: elliptical, dentate, and glossy. It is a hybrid between the common holly and Ilex latifolia, a Japanese species.

Ilex aquifolium ‘Myrtifolium’, Ilex aquifolium ‘Ingramii’, Ilex meserveae ‘Little Rascal’

Depending on the type of soil and exposure

Hollies prefer deep, cool, well-drained soils, as well as the shade of woodlands. However, they can also thrive in clearings with more sunlight. Let’s nuance this statement based on the species.

The crenate holly or Ilex crenata prefers a sheltered position from scorching sun. It has generally low soil requirements. The Ilex x meservae needs sunlight and tolerates limestone, while other species prefer slightly acidic soils. The Ilex verticillata requires consistently cool, even moist soil, in full sun or partial shade. All variegated forms of all species need some sunlight for their coloration, in soil that remains cool.

Depending on the uses

• Shaped into topiary or clouds, as borders, as a replacement for boxwood, in pots

Dwarf hollies in general, particularly those of the species Ilex crenata with boxwood-like leaves, are excellent candidates for topiary. They serve as a good alternative to boxwood, which unfortunately suffers from the infamous boxwood moth. All dwarf specimens from various species, such as the beautiful x meservae, can be planted in pots on the terrace.

• As a defensive hedge

Common hollies, Ilex aquifolium, with spiny foliage, are suitable for creating defensive hedges.

• In a free and wild hedge

Hollies can also be part of lovely free hedges made up of several genera of bushes. The deciduous species with colourful autumn foliage and its fruits on naked branches, Ilex verticillata, makes a good subject for a free hedge, surrounded by evergreen and deciduous plants, such as hawthorns and symphorines.

→ Find our advice sheet: Hollies for low hedges

• In woodland, within a grove of deciduous trees, under large trees

Their preference for shaded areas makes them good candidates for groves, under trees like oaks or beeches. Plant them alongside shrubs like Cotinus with purple foliage, or shrubs with beautiful autumn colours like Parrotia, or in contrasting colours in front of blue conifers.

• As a specimen plant

Tall or shorter specimens with the most ornamental foliage make beautiful focal points when planted as specimens in a garden, especially those with a conical habit and variegated leaves.

• For your end-of-year decorations

The decorative foliage and beautiful fruiting of Ilex aquifolium are used for stunning decorations in our interiors. Also consider variegated forms to refresh this beautiful decor.

• By a water feature

Take advantage of Ilex verticillata‘s affinity for wet areas by placing it at the edge of a pond.

Ilex meserveae ‘Gentle’ in a pot, Christmas holly, Ilex crenata in a trimmed low hedge

For further reading

• Discover our range of Holly
• Find our advice sheet: Choosing a holly
• Browse our advice sheet: Hollies for low hedges
• Discover our tips for growing a holly in a pot
• Discover 5 hollies to plant in a pot