In order to avoid buying a "male" winterberry holly, will another holly variety in my yard sufficiently pollinate "her"

Patrick F
by Patrick F
I don't know the name of the other holly variety (15 of them), but the leaves are "rectangular" and sport 5 very sharp points. They are about 75 ft from my chosen planting site.
  5 answers
  • Mike and Anne Mike and Anne on Jan 22, 2012
    Winterberry hollies are either serrata or verticillata species. Your existing plants are probably aquafolium or cornuta hollies that will not pollinate the new plant. You will need to find the specific pollinating plant for the female you purchased and it will depend on whether the female plant is an early blooming or late blooming cultivar. . One of your independent garden centers in Cary will be a better source of information on the specific cultivar than one of the big box stores.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jan 23, 2012
    Mike and Anne are exactly right. Here's a good guide to holly pollination from Hometalk contributor and Georgia Gardener Walter Reeves: http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/holly-pollination/
  • Erica Glasener Erica Glasener on Jan 23, 2012
    Mikd and Anne offer you good advice. The good news is that you only need one male to pollinate a group of females of a specific type. More garden centers are offering them for sale together. You will be glad if you spend the money when you see the results. Happy gardening.
  • Patrick F Patrick F on Jan 23, 2012
    Thanks for the responses, guys. I guess it will be Jim Dandy to the rescue....... Patrick
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jan 24, 2012
    Winterberry looks great in a mass. You may end up giving Jim Dandy a harem!