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Writted by Debbie C. Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener
Who doesn’t cheer at the sight of the iconic red berries and evergreen branches of Holly during the December holidays? Over 480 species populate the genus Ilex yet the term “Holly” traditionally references English Holly (Ilex aquifolium), a Christmas decoration brought to the United States with colonists. The Latin Ilex means “evergreen oak” but some are deciduous and lose their leaves. All Ilex produce insignificant flowers and are dioecious. Male and female plants are required to produce drupes or stone fruits, not true berries. The drupes provide an important food source for birds, though they are toxic to humans. All Ilex prefer acidic soil. This versatile group includes four species native to New Jersey and Somerset County.
American Holly (Ilex opaca) a pyramidal, evergreen tree with gray bark, most reminded colonists of English or Christmas Holly. The greenish white flowers appearing in May and June provide nectar for honeybees and butterflies. The tree serves as a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae and provides cover and nesting for birds as well as red drupes. Reaching 40-50 feet in height and 18-40 feet in width, this highly deer resistant tree thrives in full sun, part sun and shade. It prefers soil which drains well. The only native Holly with spiny, leathery green leaves, the fine textured and white wood of American Holly found use in cabinetwork as inlays. An interesting fact: The Holly collection at Rutgers Gardens began as a collaboration between the Holly Society of America and Dr. Elwin Orton to produce locally grown decorative branches for the holidays.
Inkberry (Ilex glabra), an evergreen shrub often used as a boxwood substitute in borders, hedges and foundation plantings, also blooms in May and June with greenish white insignificant flowers. Reaching 8 feet high and wide, Inkberry prefers full sun or part shade. It can naturalize in wet locations but will grow in dry soil as well. Inkberry tolerates deer and rabbit and produces black drupes.
Closely related Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and Smooth Winterberry (Ilex laevigata) are deciduous shrubs reaching 6-10 feet in height and spread. Difficult to distinguish from each other when not in flower or fruit, Winterberry produces greenish white flowers in June and July and drupes in late summer to fall, while Smooth Winterberry produces white to cream flowers from May to July and fruits from September to February. Both prefer full sun or part shade and moist soil. They tolerate boggy, swampy conditions making them useful for rain gardens and along streams. Most noticeable after leaf drop, the red drupes help provide year-round interest.
You may be able to spot these varieties and more in the Holly Collection at Rutgers Gardens.