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Deck the halls with boughs of holly! There are hundreds of carols that mention this well known holiday plant.

Holly is a plant with ancient pagan and Christian origins, and is steeped with superstition. It is said, that the holly plant is protective against lightning and witches, and is representative of eternal life. Some believe that the bright red berries are as a result of Christ's blood falling upon the holly. No matter what your beliefs are, this is clearly a plant that should be treated with reverence.

Reverence can come in the form of knowing, just how to grow this beautiful and festive plant in abundance.

Holly is found the world over, except for Antarctica and Australia. Varieties of holly can range from six inches in height to over seventy feet. Be sure to select a variety that's suitable to your space. There are holly plants that thrive within most climate zones, so be sure to ask your nursery or garden supply which variety is best for your area.

The most famous variety of holly is the English Holly that we see during the Yule and Christmas season. It has rich, dark blue-green leaves, with sharpened points, that resemble bat-wings and are dotted with bright red berries. This form of holly does best in climate zone six.

Holly plants enjoy a well drained acidic soil, and plenty of sunshine. Choose your location carefully, as these plants suffer when transplanted. They require regular pruning, which can be done any time after late summer and into the fall and winter.

The plants can be kept weed free by making use of landscape cloth at the base, and mulch over top. The nitrogen content must be kept low in the soil, or it will affect berry production and plant growth.

Speaking of berries! These are essentially the offspring' of the plant, and in order to achieve offspring, you need both a male and a female plant. It's usually enough if there is one male plant within thirty or forty feet of the females. If you're planning to deck your halls a-plenty be sure to plant several bushes. A holly can actually suffer from over-pruning. Over-pruning in winter can make this plant susceptible to the elements, and might cause it to die before spring.

Holly plants are beautiful both indoors and out. The bright red berries are an attractant to wildlife, like birds and deer, who seek them out for winter nourishment.
Inside you can use the holly on your mantel, as a runner along your stairs and bannisters or as wreaths and centerpieces. They are relatively easy to grow and will do well indoors for a long time, usually lasting the entire holiday season and beyond.

Take these relatively simple steps to care for your holly plants, and you will be rewarded with gorgeous Christmas and Yuletide decorations for years to come.

Fa la la la la lala la lah!

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Clark.
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