Best Holly
Ilex verticillata, commonly known as Winterberry Holly, is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. It’s recognized by its striking clusters of bright red berries which remain visible on bare branches during the winter months, providing a distinctive visual element in the landscape. This p...
Ilex decidua, commonly known as Possumhaw, is a native shrub found throughout the southeastern United States. It’s notable for its persistent bright orange-red berries which remain on the plant through much of winter providing food and color. This deciduous holly offers valuable winter interest and...
Ilex aquifolium, commonly called European holly or English holly, is an evergreen tree or shrub native to western, central, and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia. It has glossy, dark green leaves that are often spiny on younger growth and bears red drupes on female plants when a...
Ilex vomitoria, commonly known as Yaupon Holly, is an evergreen shrub in the family Aquifoliaceae native to the southeastern United States. It is notable as the only known caffeinated plant native to North America, with caffeine and related compounds present in its leaves. Indigenous peoples, includ...
Ilex x meserveae, or Meserve holly, is a hybrid evergreen shrub developed by Kathleen Meserve in the 1950s. It crosses the traditional spiny, dark foliage of English holly with the cold hardiness of Asian species, allowing it to thrive in colder climates. These dioecious plants produce bright red be...
Ilex crenata, commonly known as Japanese holly, is a dense, evergreen shrub native to eastern China, Japan, and Korea. Unlike many well-known hollies, it features small, smooth, spineless leaves rather than sharp, spiky foliage. The plant produces tiny white flowers in the spring, which are followed...
Ilex glabra, commonly called Inkberry, is a slow-growing evergreen shrub native to the wet woodlands and swamps of eastern North America. It belongs to the Aquifoliaceae family and is structurally characterized by its glossy, leathery green leaves and black, berry-like drupes that persist through wi...
Ilex cornuta, or Chinese holly, is a large evergreen shrub native to China and Korea that belongs to the Aquifoliaceae family. It is distinguished by its thick, glossy, rectangular leaves featuring prominent spines along the margins, though some varieties possess smoother foliage. As a dioecious pla...
