It amazes me how plants know how to sprout, how to grow, when to change, when to flower, and how to ensure their survival. Much of this amazement comes from watching every single episode of Blue Planet, and Life. I'm amazed by how after years of watching plants you learn to predict change. Watching the beauty of nature unfold before your very eyes you can't help but feel blessed.
In early September holly trees begin forming gorgeous gold berries in large numbers. These berries grow, and the shade of gold is actually as beautiful to see as their red counterparts. Unfortunately if you don't pay attention, before you know it the berries have changed to a deep red. This is not hard to let happen, because also, before you know it, you realize that in just a few short weeks/days/hours.. Christmas will be here and you aren't ready. Anyway, I may not be ready for Christmas, but the holly trees will be and they didn't even try. Maybe I should take a lesson from nature and just "let things happen," and enjoy the beauty of the season.
Savannah Holly
Savannah Holly is ideal for use as a street tree, framing tree, specimen, or barrier planting. Roots are rarely invasive due to their great number and relatively small diameter. This native tree is ideal for naturalizing on moist, slightly acid soils, and the fruit is very attractive to wildlife, serving as an excellent food source. It grows 30 to 45 feet tall. and spreads 6 to 10 feet. Columnar form.
East Palatka Holly
Size: Height: 20 ft. to 30 ft.
Width: 10 ft. to 20 ft.
Hybrid between Ilex opaca and Ilex cassine. Persistent red fruit is bright against the glossy, dark green leaves of this slender, conical shrub, making it a nice decorative screen.
Nellie R Stevens Holly
This fast-growing variety can reach heights of up to 30 feet and widths up to 15 feet. The 'Nellie R. Stevens' holly prefers full sun to part shade and is a great choice for a screen, a backdrop for smaller plantings or a singular specimen. The tree bears ample scarlet-colored fruit and thrives in moist but well-drained soil.
Oakland Holly
If you love holly, but hate to prune, Oakland is the answer to your prayers. Its dense, pyramidal shape needs no pruning or shearing to maintain. This upright grower also boasts unique, oak-shaped leaves of medium green, as well as lots of bright red berries. Use Oakland for screening, foundation planting, as an accent, or even in containers at Christmas.
Dimension: 15-20' H x 12-15' W
Full sun to part shade
American Holly
Suggested uses for this plant include hedge, screen, and specimen plant.
Height: 40 to 50 feet
Spread: 18 to 40 feet
Shape: Upright
Prune in winter, as needed. Use clippings for holiday decorations. Withstands heavy pruning; remove branches at their point of origin.
Fosters Holly
Height: 20 ft. to 30 ft.
Width: 10 ft. to 20 ft.
Plant Characteristics: decorative berries or fruit, low maintenance, poisonous, Small leaves, evergreen, Foliage dark green, Tolerates deer, drought, heat & humidity, seashore, slope, wind.
