Berries Inside and Out

Hollies give a wonderful show of seasonal color.

On a crisp winter day, it sometimes seems that the whole world sleeps. The grass mellows to a golden tan, and trees stand bare and proud. Even the clear blue sky seems quiet. But a stroll down the street reveals a sudden burst of color; a Foster holly on the corner shouts over the seasonal snores. Vibrant red berries weigh down the limbs, but they still cast brilliant color into the stark winter sky. Cut an armful of berry-laden stems, and bring them inside. In a vase, their bold color is an instant source of holiday cheer.

Every Holly on Earth

With more than 400 species and countless hybrids, finding the right holly for your yard can be confusing. Are you interested only in the magnificent berries, or do you also want an evergreen screening hedge? Do you want to give your flying feathered friends some winter fodder, or do you just need a low-maintenance shrub?

Regardless, there are two basic types of hollies: evergreen and deciduous. Evergreen selections are numerous and make great screens, hedges, or trees. Deciduous hollies, such as winterberry, can serve as specimen trees in summer, with shapely trunks and deep green canopies. They also provide unparalleled berries in winter, glowing bright against the bare trunks. Use the box below to determine the right one for you.

Bring 'Em Inside

With the perfect holly now covered in berries in your yard, grab some pruners, and bring the show inside. Deciduous hollies are most useful in winter floral arrangements because of their colorful berries and bare limbs. However, if you lack a 25year-old winterberry out back and don't think paying five bucks a stem for deciduous holly berries makes sense, try simply stripping the leaves off an evergreen holly. Cut a 2-foot stem of 'Foster #2,' 'Savannah,' or Burford holly, and then just snip the leaves off.

Place the bare holly stems in a vase with some water, or use them as the backbone of a floral arrangement of roses, carnations, and mums. To get the longest life from your holly sprigs, keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heating vents. With the addition of floral preservative, the sprigs can last three to four weeks. Also try misting the stems with water or a waxy product that conserves moisture, such as Wilt-Pruf Plant Protector, for the longest possible show of color.

EDWIN MARTY

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Dec 2004
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