Hollies add holiday color to landscapes

Tyler—There’s no plant that says “Christmas” in the South quite like a holly. Those glossy green leaves and bright red berries have been woven into our holiday traditions for centuries, symbolizing hope, resilience, and cheer in the darkest days of winter. Here in East Texas, we’re fortunate to have several native hollies that not only brighten our landscapes but also provide food and shelter for wildlife.

American holly (Ilex opaca) is the grand dame of our native hollies. With its stately evergreen foliage and clusters of red berries on female trees, it looks like it stepped straight out of a Christmas card. Though slow growing, it can eventually reach 50 feet, making it a fine specimen tree for larger properties. Its dense canopy offers year-round cover for birds, while its berries feed everything from cedar waxwings to mockingbirds. American holly isn’t available in the nursery trade so if you have one in your landscape, cherish and appreciate it.

Closer to home for many East Texans is yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria). Don’t let the name scare you; this versatile native is one of our most useful landscape plants. Yaupon tolerates drought, poor soils, and pruning, making it a reliable choice for hedges, screens, or naturalistic plantings. Female plants produce abundant red berries that persist well into winter, attracting flocks of hungry birds. And if you’re feeling adventurous, remember that yaupon leaves were once brewed into a caffeinated tea by Native Americans, our very own “Texas tea.”

For those who prefer a deciduous option, possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua) is a showstopper. In summer it’s an unassuming small tree, but once the leaves drop, its bare branches glow with clusters of red or orange berries. Possumhaw thrives in bottomlands and along fence rows, but it also adapts well to home landscapes. Few plants can rival its winter display, and it’s especially striking when planted in groups where the berry-laden branches create a natural holiday decoration.

Of course, not all hollies in our gardens are strictly native. The widely available Ilex × attenuata hybrids, crosses between American holly and dahoon holly, combine the best traits of both parents. Popular cultivars like ‘Foster’s,’ ‘Savannah,’ and occasionally ‘Eagleson’ (often incorrectly spelled ‘Eagleston’) offer reliable berry production, graceful forms, and adaptability to our climate. These hybrids are often easier to find in nurseries than pure natives and make excellent choices for homeowners who want that classic holly look.

Whether evergreen or deciduous, native or hybrid, hollies remind us that beauty and resilience can coexist. They thrive in our soils, support our wildlife, and connect us to centuries of tradition. As you deck your halls this season, consider planting a holly in your yard. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, berries for the birds, greenery for the holidays, and a living legacy for generations to come.

Greg Grant, Ph.D., is the Smith County horticulturist and Master Gardener coordinator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Tyler.