How to grow Holly

Although Holly is easy to grow and seems to take care of its self, it is difficult to replant if it needs to be moved after two or three years

Hollies can be trimmed to a conical shape, or grown as an ornamental standard, or planted as a hedge. If a holly is clipped, it may not flower and berry well, as the flowers form on the previous season’s growth.

Holly is tolerant of exposure to wind, salt spray, shade. frequent cutting, and air pollution. however, it is sensitive to both drought and water logging.

Easy from seed and this is a good cheap way to make a hedge, but the seeds may germinate naturally only after one or two winters Start off in modules, after chilling the seed in the fridge for a few weeks and pot up through the growing season. Plant out the following autumn.
Alternatively semi ripe cuttings or layering will work well on plants that have characteristics, like variegation, that may not be preserved by using seed

Choose the site well, holly does not like to be moved once planted.

Establish new plants in the autumn, water well in the first growing season

These estimates for how long Holly takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Ilex in Latin means the holm-oak or evergreen oak. The name “holly” refers to Ilex aquifolium, specifically stems with berries used in Christmas decorations.

Holly plants are either male or female, so if your bush does not have the berries you want in the winter, it may be because you have a male tree. Some trees have been observed to change sex over time
Trees first flower after about 20 years but maximum berry numbers are not reached until about 40 years, with extra heavy fruiting in mast years.
Berries are toxic to humans but eaten by birds and grazed by deer. In times before hay and turnips were used as winter feed for animals, holly was coppiced to feed domesticated animals

Holly bush, Holly shrub

Ilex L.

Misspellings: Holy