Holly trees with red berries are a classic choice for adding year-round interest and natural beauty to gardens and landscapes. Known for their glossy evergreen foliage and bright winter berries, certain holly species provide a pop of color when most other plants have gone dormant. Let’s explore some of the most popular holly trees with red berries and how to use them effectively in your outdoor space.
American Holly
The American holly (Ilex opaca) is one of the most iconic holly trees, especially around the Christmas season. It is an evergreen tree or shrub with leathery, spiny-margined leaves. This holly produces clusters of bright red berries on female plants in fall and winter. The berries stand out beautifully against the deep green foliage. American holly grows slowly, eventually reaching 15-40 feet tall. It thrives in moist, acidic soil and does best with some shade, especially in hot southern climates. The American holly is ideal for naturalizing areas or using as a specimen plant.
English Holly
English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is another classic holly known for its vibrant red berries. This broadleaf evergreen has glossy, spiny foliage that ranges from dark green to variegated shades English holly produces an abundance of showy red berries on female plants if a male pollinator is nearby. It typically grows as a dense bush or small tree up to 20-30 feet tall English holly prefers moist, well-drained soil and does well in full sun to partial shade. Its versatility makes it effective for hedges, screens, topiaries, and specimen planting.
Nellie R. Stevens Holly
The Nellie R Stevens holly (Ilex × ‘Nellie R. Stevens’) is a popular hybrid variety prized for its appealing pyramidal form and prolific red berries. This fast-growing evergreen holly has lush, deep green leaves with minimal spines. The upright branches are laden with big clusters of bright red berries throughout winter Nellie Stevens holly grows up to 20-30 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide. It adapts well to various soil types and lighting conditions. Its columnar shape makes it ideal for borders, privacy screens, or foundation plantings.
Winterberry Holly
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) offers vibrant winter color with its masses of bright red berries. This deciduous holly drops its leaves in fall to reveal clusters of berries that persist into winter to provide critical food for birds. Winterberry grows as a large, spreading shrub up to 10 feet tall. It thrives in wet areas and is versatile in sun or partial shade. Plant winterberry near water features or use it in groupings to maximize the impact of its winter show.
Dwarf Chinese Holly
Dwarf Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta ‘Rotunda’) is a compact holly prized for its versatility and neat form. This rounded evergreen shrub grows to just 3-5 feet tall and wide. It produces an abundance of large, shiny red berries that encircle the branches in fall through winter. The small size makes it perfect for foundations, borders, containers, and mass plantings where you want neat structure and winter interest. Dwarf Chinese holly does well in full sun or partial shade and adapts to varying soil pH.
Caring for Holly Trees with Berries
To get the most abundant berry production on your holly trees, plant both male and female varieties within 50 feet of each other for proper pollination. Female hollies that receive pollen from a male plant will set significantly more fruit.
Situate holly trees in full sun to partial shade depending on the species and your climate. Most appreciate consistently moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Apply a balanced fertilizer for evergreens in early spring. Prune hollies immediately after flowering if needed to encourage berry production. Holly trees are relatively pest and disease resistant when given their preferred growing conditions.
Landscaping with Holly Trees
Holly trees infused with bright red berries are ideal for adding multi-season interest to gardens and landscapes. Use them as stand-alone specimen plants, incorporated into mixed borders and beds, or in groupings for high visual impact. Take advantage of their natural pyramidal or columnar forms to create striking focal points or screens. The compact varieties work beautifully in container gardens on patios and decks.
Let holly trees with red berries bring year-round color and natural beauty to your outdoor living spaces. Their glossy foliage, graceful forms, and vibrant berries will liven up any landscape. With so many excellent holly species and cultivars to choose from, you can easily find one that fits your site conditions and design vision. Plant some holly trees this season and enjoy their beauty for many years to come.
Ilex x Red Beauty® (Holly)//A⭐️small evergreen holly with gorgeous big❤️ red berries!
FAQ
What holly tree has red berries?
Is a holly tree with red berries male or female?
Can you eat red holly berries?
What is the difference between holly and American holly?
Do holly trees have red berries?
The popular English holly tree is famous for its dark glossy green prickly leaves, clusters of bright red berries, and winter decorations. The English holly is usually used for Christmas decorations in Europe. To ensure you get bright red berries, you need to plant a male and female holly tree.
What is a holly tree called?
‘Jersey Princess’ (I. opaca) is an American holly that fits the bill of traditional, glossy leaves and bright red berries. A small tree at maturity, this cultivar will reach 20-30 feet tall. ‘Jersey Knight’ (I. opaca) is a male American holly, with all the gorgeous foliage but no fruits. Plant with ‘Jersey Princess’ as a pollinator.
What does a holly tree look like?
Holly tree leaves: American holly tree leaves are dull green and prickly that measure up to 4” (10 cm) long and 3” (7.5 cm) wide. Holly tree berries: American holly tree berries are shades of orange to red and grow among the evergreen foliage from September until February.
What do holly berries look like?
Holly bush berries: Inkberry holly bush berries are black, pea-sized drupes that grow abundantly on branches. Blue holly is a large shrub or small tree with glossy green, pointed leaves with spines on the margins and shiny crimson red berries. Several blue holly cultivars have beautiful bluish-green shiny foliage.
What are holly berries?
Holly berries are one of the most recognizable features of plants in the Ilex genus. Botanically speaking, the fruit on holly plants are tiny round drupes, not berries. However, most people refer to holly fruit as berries. Holly berries appear in the fall and ripen in winter.
Which holly trees grow best?
Winter Red and Maryland Beauty are prolific fruit producers. Yaupon holly (I. vomitoria), Zones 7 to 9. Yaupon’s small evergreen leaves can be sheared into a privacy screen or even shaped into a topiary. It grows quickly and generally reaches heights of 10 to 20 feet, but in some cases can tower to 30 feet. Inkberry holly (I. glabra), Zones 4 to 9.