Landscaping With Holly Bushes and Trees

Landscaping With Holly Bushes and Trees

Holly bushes and trees (Ilex spp.) are some of the most versatile plants in the landscaping world, offering glossy evergreen leaves, vibrant berries, dense privacy, and even thorny deterrents for unwanted visitors.

With varieties from broadleaf evergreen American Holly to native deciduous Winterberry and compact Inkberry, you can design nearly every corner of a property with Holly.

Whether framing your front door, defining property lines, or supporting pollinators and songbirds, these plants bring beauty and function to your outdoor space.

• Foundation Plantings
• Hedges, Privacy & Screening
• Wildlife & Bird Groupings
• Specimen & Accent Plantings
• Replacing Boxwood with Inkberry Holly
• Tips For Successful Holly Landscaping
• Holly's A Landscape All-Star!

Foundation Plantings

Hollies provide structure at the base of a home or building, softening corners, filling under windows, or anchoring entryways.

• Corners: Use upright forms like Nellie R. Stevens to frame a house with evergreen elegance.
• Under Windows: Choose low-growing cultivars like Inkberry Holly as facer plants, replacing disease-prone Boxwoods with a more resilient option.
• Natural Security: Spiny-leaf types, such as American Holly, planted under windows, deter prowlers and even curious wildlife.

Hedges, Privacy & Screening

Dense Hollies make attractive green walls.

• Formal Hedges: Shear evergreen varieties for a tight, uniform look.
• Natural Screens: Allow them to grow more loosely for wildlife shelter and a natural aesthetic.
• Windbreaks: Tall varieties like Ilex opaca reduce wind exposure and protect more delicate plants.
• Property Division: Spiny forms discourage trespassing while marking boundaries beautifully.

Wildlife & Bird Groupings

Planting Hollies in small clusters creates a haven for birds.

• Berry-bearing females like Winterberry provide winter food for robins, cedar waxwings, and bluebirds.
• Dense foliage offers year-round cover for nesting and roosting.
• Remember that most Hollies are dioecious: Plant male pollinators nearby to ensure fruit set.

Specimen & Accent Plantings

Some Hollies deserve the spotlight.

• Use a single, upright Holly as a focal point in a lawn or garden bed.
• Pair with Red Twig Dogwood or Ornamental Grasses for seasonal contrast.
• Highlight their glossy foliage with soft-textured companions like Hostas or Ferns.

Replacing Boxwood With Inkberry Holly

Inkberry (Ilex glabra) is a native, disease-resistant alternative to Boxwood for formal designs.

• Ideal for clipped hedges, low borders, and geometric patterns.
• Stays tidy without frequent shearing.
• Handles wet sites or sandy soils better than Boxwood.

Tips For Successful Holly Landscaping

• Plant both male and female Hollies if you want berries.
• Choose cultivars suited to your zone for cold-hardy performance.
• Use a mix of deciduous and evergreen Hollies for four-season interest.
• Keep plants healthy with annual pruning, seasonal arborist mulch, and soil pH checks.
• Read here how to prune Holly hedges.

Holly's A Landscape All-Star!

From corner anchors and hedges to wildlife sanctuaries and property borders, Holly bushes and trees can do it all. With endless variety and durability, they're a landscaper's dream plant. Whether you want timeless structure, four-season beauty, or a natural habitat for local wildlife, Hollies are a reliable choice that rewards you year after year.

Happy Planting!