Evergreen hollies: these plants have a multitude of garden uses

摘要

The mere mention of holly brings to mind conical trees with spiny leaves and red berries ill winter. That image is valid, but I love evergreen hollies because they are, in fact, so much more diverse than that. They range in size from a 6-inch-tall spreading dwarf to a 70-foot-tall towering giant. Leaves may be small and spineless or large and armed. Berries can be red, orange, yellow, or black. Hollies are one of the few genera that can be grown in all 50 states. At the Scott Arboretum at SwarthmoreCollege, where I am the curator, I take full advantage of the versatility of this genus. I use specimen hollies as focal points, as foundation plantings, and as privacy screens and hedges.