Oakland® Holly

Discerning garden design relies on careful planning and thoughtful plant selection. Each plant serves a purpose in a hard-working yard that lives large, no matter the size.

One of the most important (but often overlooked) choices is evergreen structure plants. Look for superior choices that elevate the whole look, even if it’s in a subtle way.

Oakland® Holly (Ilex hybrid ‘Magland’ PP14417) is a polished, lovely and improved selection. The Oak-shaped, leathery, lustrous, deeply-lobed leaves really set it apart from others.

Another important improvement is that this variety is self-pollinating. In spring, creamy white flower clusters are fragrant, but not showy. The plant has both male and female flowers.

Not only is every plant self-pollinating, but Oakland Holly can be used to pollinate other varieties as well.

The flowers mature into the some of the most incredibly showy orange-red fruits that will persist into winter. You’ll love the brilliant winter display of bright orange-red berries on every plant.

Oakland Holly is a beautiful plant that was expertly developed from a compact branch sport of the world renowned Oak Leaf Holly. It has all of the best characteristics of this standard; it stays beautifully green all year round.

The handsome evergreen leaves are instantly recognizable. Leathery, thick, with a sophisticated sheen, they are shaped like serrated Oak leaves, with multiple spines. A very narrow brighter green margin spotlights the edges of each leaf. In certain light, they’ll look almost electric green!

Let’s face it. You buy Holly for an evergreen backdrop or screen. But this variety is quite special. Why not go with the best?

Oakland Holly grows fairly quickly into a very desirable pyramid shape. It won’t need much pruning. This is a beautiful, carefree evergreen that will help give shape to your garden.

If you see this beautiful shrub in stock on our site, please order all the Oakland Holly you will need for your garden design plan now. We will sell out.

How to Use Oakland Holly in the Landscape

Oakland Holly develops into a wonderful screen. Just about every yard has some place that could use a rock steady, bright green living wall.

Maybe you want to hide the ho-hum, utilitarian places in your yard. Carve out a spot to stash the garbage cans, or compost pile using Oakland Holly hedge.

Yes, you can plant these in the middle of your yard! Often, people get stuck thinking that you can only plant near the perimeter, but that’s just not true.

Map your yard out on paper and carve it up into smaller “rooms” that meet the needs of your lifestyle. You may be surprised how much larger your yard seems, if you can’t see everything all at once.

Love Yoga? Make a Meditation Garden for yourself.

Are you a gourmet foodie? Create a fabulous outdoor dining room, complete with chandelier.

Want a private retreat? Ring a fire pit with comfy seating and protect it with a hedge of this standout selection. It will become a hard-working, evergreen privacy screen.

You’ll use Oakland Holly to create the walls of these outdoor garden rooms. With their lustrous leaves, these evergreen shrubs easily grow into wonderful structural design elements.

Can you imagine the amazing outdoor Holiday dinner parties surrounded by berry-bedecked, living, green walls? Roast some chestnuts, call in the carolers, or watch Frosty the Snowman on an outdoor movie screen.

Anchor a corner of your foundation planting with this sophisticated choice. It will make your house look like a million bucks or more!

Repeat these along the north or east side of your mixed borders. You’ll gain enormous winter interest, and year-round structure. Roses, perennials and small flowering shrubs like Azaleas or trees like Redbud just pop against this lovely backdrop.

Now, let’s say you need a bit of environmental protection for your property, whether commercial or residential. Define the property line, guide foot traffic, or deter intruders with Oakland Holly. They make excellent, impenetrable barrier plants because of the spines.

Oakland Hollies takes shearing very well and can be kept at any height you wish, but with its classic shape no pruning is needed.

Plant them 4-6 feet apart. You’ll measure from the center of one plant to the center of the next. As you can imagine, if you can afford to buy the largest container size we have in stock, you’ll achieve a solid screen sooner.

Oakland Holly will grow about a foot a year to form a thick, solid hedge. It remains well-branched all the way to the ground.

If you want to expose a bit of the lower trunk to create an Oakland Holly tree, simply limb up the lowest branches back to the main trunk. Keep after it for a few years, and it will become a marvelously festive accent specimen tree for all your Holiday parties.

#ProPlantTips for Care

While they are widely adaptable, Oakland Holly does need well-drained soil. If you see puddles that remain after a rain in the place you want to plant, mound up. Bring in additional topsoil and create an 18 – 24 inch mound. Plant directly in that mound.

Take the time to test the soil to see if you need amendments. Your local extension office will be able to help you with that.

Oakland Holly loves well-drained, slightly acid soil best. Give it a slow release fertilizer for Acid Loving plants in early spring, following the instructions. Dr. Earth is a good choice.

As your new plants are developing their roots in your soil, please be careful to provide an even, moderate amount of supplemental water if you don’t receive adequate rainfall.

Once the plants are established in your native soil, they can tolerate short periods of drought. Protect your investment with watering if the dry spell lasts a long time.

Give them full sun, or part shade growing locations. In the warmest climates, these plants will appreciate protection from the hot afternoon sun. You may need to prune shaded plants more often to maintain a tight, compact appearance.

Prune after the flowers are done blooming in spring. Of course, you’ll also want to snip some boughs for indoor decorations during the Holidays. Prune up the branches and bring indoors for Christmas decorations. This is such a festive plant, sure to deliver lots of fun memories for the whole gang.

This variety is a really special horticultural success story. ‘Magland’ is commonly sold as Oakland Holly, a super selection of self-pollinating Holly that showed up as a branch sport from another hybrid named ‘Conaf’ from a Red Holly series.

This variety is resistant to pests and diseases. Deer tend to leave it alone.

Please don’t miss your chance to snap these healthy, desirable plants when we have them in stock. Nature Hills works with gardeners and landscape designers across the country, so we sell out quickly. Order today!