Ilex crenata helleri ca. 20–25 year old spec. with Abies glauca conica
Ilex crenata helleri Aquifoliaceae Holly
Holly may be a tree or a shrub and is sometimes an evergreen. The waxy green leaves are known to anyone who has ever seen a Christmas wreath. The red berries are almost as striking. Most varieties grow slowly.
CARE. Most like rich well-drained spots. They need acid soil or the leaves turn yellow. They are hard to transplant and it should only be tried in the spring before growth starts. The deciduous varieties are easier to move, but are not so hardy. If you are buying a tree, get nursery stock that has been freshly dug. Mulch, but not near the trunks in winter because of mice. If you desire the red berries, spray with hormones. Prune yearly for shape, in winter.
PROPAGATION. Seeds (stratify, slow to germinate), cuttings of young ripe wood (root under glass).
SPECIAL USES. Hedges, rock gardens, containers, foundation planting, bonsai.
Juniperus Cypressaceae Juniper
Evergreen trees and shrubs with needles or scale leaves. Can be tall trees or prostrate shrubs that hug the ground. Foliage is a beautiful blue-green.
