Landscape  Jolly Dahoon Holly

Much like cypress trees, Dahoon Holly are a type of native Florida tree that grow best in wet soil because they naturally occur in wetland areas like marshes and swamps. They do tolerate locations where conditions are drier if they’re kept well-watered, but their crown is thinner in these environments. With proper cultivation the trees are hardy and easily maintained, even in urban areas where harsh conditions such as high air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil and drought are so common.

 

Where’s the holly?

Perfect for low-maintenance landscaping, Dahoon Holly trees require very little pruning for the upkeep of an attractive, well-structured shape and the growth of a strong tree. Their canopy grows in an open pattern that creates a twisted, drooping texture that gives them great visual appeal. Most landscape applications see them tightly clipped into tall screens that create a natural sight barrier or in single-trunked, small trees. These two forms make them ideal for a variety of settings such as buffer strips around parking lots, in medians along the highway, near decks or patios, along narrow strips of lawn, bordering residential streets and even in tree pits along sidewalks.

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Holly growth

While they can reach heights of up to 40 feet, Dahoon Holly are usually kept to heights between 20 to 30 feet, with canopies of an 8 to 12-foot span. Easily identifiable by the smooth, supple texture of their shiny, dark green leaves with only a few serrations near their tip, the trees possess either only male or only female flowers on each single plant, making the planting of at least two Dahoon Hollies – one male and one female – necessary to better ensure the production of their brilliant red berries in fall and winter. Propagation of Dahoon Hollies is either done by seeds, which germinate in one year, or by cuttings. However, using cuttings is generally the preferred method, as they yield plants of a known sex and root easily when planted. 

Holly pros and cons

Their colorful berries serve as an excellent food source for wildlife. Bird enthusiasts love their tendency of attracting birds such as cedar waxwings, mockingbirds and robins. Unlike many other trees and plants, Dahoon Holly trees are generally considered allergy-free, making them more appealing for use in landscaping. Also appealing is the fact that the trees have no thorns and are generally resistant to pests and disease. However, a fungus infection does sometimes result in the formation of a twig gall, and mites can occasionally infest the foliage on Dahoon Holly trees planted on dry sites.

Unfortunately, their bark is thin and is easily damaged by impact. Because the branches droop as the trees grow, they do require pruning for any type of clearance beneath their canopy. They are often grown with multiple trunks but can grow with single trunks when given proper training, and the simplicity of their appearance keeps them from being particularly showy.

Caring for and maintaining Dahoon Holly trees is so simple and minimal and makes them extremely useful for a wide range of landscape applications in Florida, and their visual appeal is quite versatile for many different designs.

We at Executive Landscaping, Inc. love using these attractive evergreen trees in our clients’ properties, knowing that their relatively maintenance-free nature and aesthetic is highly complementary to the look of a well-designed, eye-catching space. In our decades of working with various types of landscaping for clients across the Gulf Coast, we’ve used our expertise for the creation of natural masterpieces, and that experience shows in the quality of our work.

Call the landscaping experts at Executive Landscaping, Inc. to learn more about Dahoon Holly trees and the landscaping services we offer today!

 

Common Native Trees in Florida

Cypress TreeBottle BrushDahoon HollyLigustrum TreeJuniper TreeMagnolia TreePersimmon TreeSabal PalmSand Live OakRiver BirchNative Florida Trees