HOLLY 
THE PLANT TO GROW 
By 
Wm. C. Frierson, Ph. D. 
The modern trend itt landscape designing is 
toward the use of more and more hoHies, _and there 
are many reasons for this, but chiefly beeause 
hollies possess such great value as landscape' mate- | | 
rial and because they are Sov easy! to- at Ey os / 
The value of holHes in the landscape” {s due to 
their unusual beauty and variety, and to ‘their 
longevity and attraction for song birds:-: ~The’, holly 
tree is one of our most beautiful evergreens,~and 
its beauty is enhanced by its annual display of 
bright red berries. Besides, it is associated with 
Christmas. In fact, “holly” is derived from “holy”, 
because of its decorative use in celebrating the 
birth of Christ. Almost everyone can grow holly 
right at home for the purpose of brightening the 
Yuletide Festivities. 
Holly comes in such a variety of size and form 
and shade of leaf and berry—from leaves smaller 
than the leaves of boxwood to leaves five or more 
inches long and with berries which are red, yellow, 
orange and black, including many tints. Some of the 
hollies more widely used in the Southeastern States 
are: (tree forms) AMERICAN HOLLY, Ilex opaca. The 
better types have dark green, glossy, ruffled leaves 
with typical spines, and large, glossy, bright red 
berries. The fruit varies greatly in size and shape 
and color. ENGLISH HOLLy, Jlex aquifolium, has not 
succeeded too well except where nights are cool and 
humidity is high. It, of all hollies, however, is the 
best for Christmas, with darker, glossier foliage and 
larger fruit. (Large Shrubs) CHINESE HOLLY, Ilex 
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