Foster Holly

Introduction

Foster Holly is one of the better cultivars of Ilex x attenuate. It reaches 15 to 25 feet in height with a spread of 8 to 12 feet, creating dense, pyramidal silhouette. The small, glossy, almost black-green, linear leaves have spiny margins, and are joined in spring by showy, small, white flowers. The blooms are followed by the heavy production of brilliant red berries, which persist on female trees from fall through winter.

Use and Management

With its dense, compact, upright growth and neat habit, Foster’s Holly is ideal for use as a tightly clipped screen or hedge, or as a specimen, foundation, or container planting. Can also be planted in a small soil space or in a tall, narrow overhead space.

Foster Holly should be grown in full sun or partial shade on well-drained, slightly acid, moist soil. It is very drought-tolerant once established and has no serious pest problems.

Planting

• Typically planted in 10, 15, 30, or 45 gal containers.
• B&B trees are specified in height (6’ – 8’ ht, etc) or caliper (3” cal., etc)
• Container trees can be double the price of B&B trees
• Plant container trees in late summer, if price allows
• Plant B&B trees if they were dug and cured in the winter months