How much sunlight does my Holly need?

Holly requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Is Holly toxic to cats, dogs, or children?

Holly is not safe to consume . If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222 , or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

What type of soil should I use for my Holly?

Holly is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture . A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Should I fertilize my Holly?

Holly grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer . Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

What is the growth pattern for Holly?

Holly grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Can Holly be grown outdoors?

USDA Hardiness Zone Holly can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-9b . Find your local hardiness zone here .

How can I propagate my Holly?

The seeds of Holly can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

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Holly

Q: Is Holly easy to care for?

Holly is generally easy to care for , though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Q: How often should I water my Holly?

Holly prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly . Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Also known as

Common Holly, Common Holly, English holly, European holly and Christmas holly

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Ilex aquifolium

Genus

Ilex

Family

Aquifoliaceae

Order

Aquifoliales

How to care for Holly

Water

How often to water your Holly

Holly needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Common Holly in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Holly: 1ft from a window

Holly love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Holly does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Holly in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Holly

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Holly: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Holly after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs

Difficulty Level

Holly is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Water Needs

Sunlight Needs

Toxicity

Soil

Fertilizer

Growth Pattern

Growing Outdoors

Propagation