Old Heavy Berry American Holly (Ilex Opaca) - 1 Gallon Pot
$27.98
Sale price
$27.98
Regular price
$34.00
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Old Heavy Berry American Holly (Ilex Opaca) - 1 Gallon Pot
$27.98
Sale price
$27.98
Regular price
$34.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Description
Old Heavy Berry American Holly
Ilex opaca 'Old Heavy Berry'
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Tree
Height at Maturity: 20-30'
Width at Maturity: 10-15'
Spacing: 8' for solid hedges; 18'+ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Upright Pyramid
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: White
Flower Size: Small
Flowering Period: May, June
Flower Type:
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Medium Green
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: Yes, profuse large berries
Berry Color: Red
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Evening Sun
Water Needs: Average, Low when established
Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silty
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained - moderate drought tolerant when established
Soil pH: 5.5 - 7
Maintenance / Care: Low to Average
Attracts: Beneficial Pollinators, Visual Attention
Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-20F / Zones 5-9), Deer, Disease, Drought (when established), Heat, Clay Soil
Description
A superb and handsome North American native evergreen tree, 'Old Heavy Berry' is widely considered to be one of the best American Holly cultivars available. It is a vigorous female tree with large, distinct, toothed, dark green leaves and a profusion of showy large red berries in fall, which the birds will thank you for. The branches of this cultivar are the ones often used for Christmas holiday decorations. It grows naturally as a pyramid to 20 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 feed wide with foliage to the ground, which makes it a great choice for privacy screen plantings or to frame a home or other building. That said, lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive evergreen tree ideal for use as a focal point specimen or to line a drive or street. Though it naturally keeps a pyramidal form, it responds very well to pruning for formal hedges that can be kept at 10 feet high or so over time. Hardy in USDA Zones 5a-9b, and very easy to grow with little to no maintenance, Old Heavy Berry is a tree anyone can grow.
Wildlife Value
The flowers of the Old Heavy Berry American Holly provide nectar for beneficial pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly larvae which appear from February to May and have one flight. Adult Henry's Elfin butterflies feed on flower nectar. Its abundant red berries are enjoyed by songbirds, wild turkeys, quail, white-tailed deer, squirrels and other small mammals.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 20 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide (depending on pruning), the Old Heavy Berry American Holly is ideal for use as a specimen tree, in groupings, or in single or staggered rows to form a solid privacy screen. It is excellent for framing the corners of tall homes or other structures. As the tree grows taller, lower branches can be removed to a desired height to form a highly attractive small evergreen tree. Great for use around swimming pools and other outdoor living and recreation spaces. The abundant crop of berries make it a welcome addition to bird and wildlife gardens and it's a fine addition to native gardens, holly gardens, cottage gardens and formal gardens.
Suggested Spacing: 7 to 8 feet apart for solid privacy screens and hedges; 18 feet or more apart for space between trees
Growing Preferences
The Old Heavy Berry American Holly is exceptionally easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained acidic soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. Alkaline soils result in chlorosis (yellowing of leaves) which can be corrected by the application of chelated iron and/or soil sulfur. More berries are produced in full to mostly sun however you can expect a good crop even with some shade. 4 hour hours or more of direct sunlight per day is suggested. Minimal if an maintenance when left to grow natural. That said, many landscapers will perform an annual pruning to maintain a more formal appearance or to control size.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for a Holly tree.
How To Plant A Holly Tree In The Ground Or In Pots
How To Prune A Holly Bush Or Tree
How To Fertilize & Water A Holly Tree
Privacy Screen Design And Planting Tips
Plant Long & Prosper!
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Care
To maintain the beauty and integrity of your purchase, we recommend treating it with care. Simple maintenance practices, such as gentle washing and proper storage, can effectively preserve the longevity of your favorites. We encourage you to refer to the care instructions included with each item, designed to help you keep your purchase in top condition.
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