January Color
Native hollies for the berries
Note: Only female trees produce fruit. In some cases, male trees may also
need to be planted nearby to encourage fruiting.
Cassine Holly, Dahoon holly
Ilex cassine
A small to large tree that can be pruned into a fine evergreen shade tree.
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Color: Large and abundant bright red or yellow berries in winter,
attractive to birds.
Leaves: Very variable, but generally large and olive-green with few or
no prickles.
Height: Relatively rapid grower, 25 to 35 feet.
Soils: Very adaptable. Likes light sandy soil; native of swamps and
boggy areas, can adapt to drier situations if watered during dry periods.
Tolerates brackish water. and can be used in low light swampy areas.
Light: Very adaptable, but needs a few hours of direct sun to look its
best.
Uses: Can be maintained as a large hedge, but perhaps best used as a
specimen shad tree, with lower limbs pruned back to the trunk in high traffic
areas. This is a great native tree that can be used in woodland plantings, in
wet areas at the edge of lakes and streams. |
Myrtle-leaf holly
Ilex myrtifolia
A large shrub or small tree with tiny leaves and a sculptured appearance.
Color: Large, conspicuous on the open limbs, persistent though
winter.
Leaves: Evergreen, dark, barely an inch long, not prickly.
Height: 12 to 15 feet in as many years. Can be kept pruned at 6 to 8
feet.
Soils: Prefers well-drained, but moist soils.
Light: Looks its best in full sun.
Uses: As single specimens.
American holly
Ilex opaca
Our largest native holly, and one of the world's tallest. Produces classic
"Christmas" leaves and berries.
Color: Large red, yellow or orange berries: showy throughout the winter
months.
Leaves: The best forms have broad, deep forest-green leaves with
ornately arranged soft prickles.
Height: Tall,columnar, slowly growing to an ultimate height of 70 to 100
feet. In 25 years, expect a 25 to 35 foot tall tree, about 15 feet wide.
Soils: Very adaptable to most soil conditions
Light: Tolerates sun or fairly heavy shade, but afternoon shade produces
the most handsome trees.
Uses: As tall, single specimen trees.
Yaupon holly
(Ilex vomitoria)
Most dwarf cultivars do not produce fruit.
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Color: Bright, glass-like red or yellow berries in winter.
Leaves: Fine-textured, gray-green foliage, smooth grayish
white bark.
Height: Large shrub, or small tree, eventually growing 15 to 25 feet tall.
Soils: Widely adaptable, very tolerant of drought and flood and poor soils.
Light: Grows in shade,but best in sun.
Uses:
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 Spring Bouquet Viburnum
Viburnum tinus robustus "Spring Bouquet"
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Blooms:
Leaves:
Height:
Soils:
Light:
Uses: |
Winter honeysuckle, Kiss-Me-At-The-Gate
Lonicera fragrantissima
A cherished old Southern shrub, loose and a little untidy in summer, but
with a delightful winter perfume.
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Blooms: Small flowers are creamy white, lemon-scented and extremely
fragrant, borne on sprawling branches in January and February.Can be pruned
heavily after flowering.
Leaves: Dull, dark green.
Height: Forms a broadly weeping shrub 6 to 8 feet high and about as
wide.
Soils: Fairly adaptable, but may not tolerate wet soils.
Light:Adaptable.
Uses: A subtle shrub that should be placed discreetly along a path,
where passers by can wonder at its fragrance. |
Links to Plant List
Pages
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January | February | March | April | May | June |
| July
| August |
September | October | November | December
|
|
March Blooming Azaleas | Deciduous
"Honeysuckle" Azaleas | Fall Blooming
Azaleas|
|
Japanese Camellias | Crepe Myrtles
|
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