Posted 9:35 pm Thursday, December 13, 2012
Send to Kindle
Hollies brighten winter garden with colorful berries
By Dee Bishop
Smith County Master Gardener
Smith County Master Gardener
When winter comes in the garden, color is often at a premium. Hollies give us color with their beautiful berries and green foliage.
This holly has unusual golden-orange berries, different from others with their bright red berries.
Yaupon hollies are local natives and the nursery industry has introduced many crosses of our native yaupons with hollies from around the world. This holly is an example. Wouldn't it look lovely against orangey brick?
Hollies laden with berries attract attention in the darkest winter months and provide food and shelter for birds also. We get to enjoy the bright berries all winter, then one early spring day a flock of cedar waxwings will descend upon the bushes and eat every single berry.
This holly has unusual golden-orange berries, different from others with their bright red berries.
Yaupon hollies are local natives and the nursery industry has introduced many crosses of our native yaupons with hollies from around the world. This holly is an example. Wouldn't it look lovely against orangey brick?
Hollies laden with berries attract attention in the darkest winter months and provide food and shelter for birds also. We get to enjoy the bright berries all winter, then one early spring day a flock of cedar waxwings will descend upon the bushes and eat every single berry.
The waxwings are beautiful birds so enjoy them for the brief time they are here. The berries will be gone, but who cares? Spring will bring many blooms and once more color will abound everywhere.
Hollies are among our easiest shrubs to grow. They are not demanding as to soil, moisture, or sun.
They do best in full sun and in rich moist soil, but will also do well in a good amount of shade. They are drought tolerant and can be trimmed into shapes. Most are evergreen, but our possumhaw is deciduous.
Please come to the IDEA Garden inside Tyler Rose Garden and see this holly as well as our beautiful possumhaw holly. You be the judge of which one is prettiest.
Dee Bishop is a Smith County Master Gardener. She writes about plants growing in the IDEA Garden located within Tyler Rose Garden.
Hollies are among our easiest shrubs to grow. They are not demanding as to soil, moisture, or sun.
They do best in full sun and in rich moist soil, but will also do well in a good amount of shade. They are drought tolerant and can be trimmed into shapes. Most are evergreen, but our possumhaw is deciduous.
Please come to the IDEA Garden inside Tyler Rose Garden and see this holly as well as our beautiful possumhaw holly. You be the judge of which one is prettiest.
Dee Bishop is a Smith County Master Gardener. She writes about plants growing in the IDEA Garden located within Tyler Rose Garden.
