SCHOOL GARDEN BLOG BY PONTHIR

Inside, we're done decking the halls…but outside, boughs of holly are still hard at work. In a winter garden, evergreen hollies provide welcome colour and structure. Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), a tough native shrub, is one of the best hollies for warmer climates. This small-leaf holly, with bright scarlet fruit that persists through winter and glossy dark-green leaves, is as beautiful as it is adaptable. It tolerates heavy pruning, which means it's perfect for a topiary. If left unpruned, however, it will form attractive wildlife-friendly thickets. Whether your garden has dry, wet, or salty soil, yaupon holly will go to work, and even when the holidays are over, the holly days will keep going.

Primary location: United Kingdom