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No berries on dwarf burford hollies
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Posted: Nov/19/2008 7:28 PM PST
Earlier this summer I bought three dwarf burford hollies to screen the foundation of my house. Bought them partly because I loved the glossy dark green texture and low maintenance, but also for the clusters of red berries. However, I have yet to see any berries emerging, though the plants themselves look healthy and are growing just fine. I consulted Michael Dirr's "Bible"  and found that Burfords do not need a cross-pollinator. Which leads me to believe that maybe my hollies are not getting enough sun to put out berries. Any thoughts?
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Posted: Nov/20/2008 2:48 AM PST
The lack of sunlight could be the problem, or they may not be mature enough yet. |
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Posted: Nov/20/2008 1:20 PM PST
Donald J. Davis, Extension Agent As Published in the Lynchburg News and Advance on 12/10/03 Red holly berries are an attractive feature of the winter landscape. If your hollies are not covered in red berries right now, consider the plants, their environment and their maintenance. Some hollies have bluish-black berries instead of red ones. These include inkberry and the widely-planted Japanese hollies such as Compacta, Helleri and Soft Touch. Certain shrubs resemble hollies and never have any red berries. Osmanthus and mahonia are two plants often confused with hollies due to their prickly foliage. Young hollies may have no red berries. Each kind of holly must reach a minimum age before it can produce berries. Berries develop from holly flowers and the flowering process is hampered by excessive shade. Hollies in shade typically have less leaves, flowers and berries than hollies growing in sun. Pruning and trimming may impact the berry display. Too much of either practice cuts off the twigs with berry potential. Holly twigs must be at least a year old before they have flowers and berries. This season’s berries are hanging on twigs which started growth in the dry 2007 season. Some hollies are male plants and they do not bear fruit. Only the female hollies can have berries. Berries form on most hollies only when pollen is transferred from a male to a female holly. Pollination occurs in spring and it is accomplished by wind, bees and other insects. Too much rain in spring may cause poor pollination. Many of the popular hollies are available only as females. There is no male Burford holly, dwarf Burford holly or Nellie R. Stevens holly. Female hollies such as these are parthenocarpic. Their flowers yield a heavy crop of red berries without pollination. The largest of these three hollies, Nellie R. Stevens, matures at a height of at least 40 feet. Although it needs no pollen, you could provide some pollen by planting an Edward J. Stevens holly nearby. |
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Posted: Nov/20/2008 7:34 PM PST
Did you happen to notice if they bloomed in the spring? Be sure and watch them this coming year to see if they bloom; if they do and then don't set fruit, you know you have poor pollination. When mine bloom, they are covered in bees, so it's kind of hard to NOT notice. |
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Posted: Nov/21/2008 4:46 AM PST
Wow, great info! Thanks! I think I have just a bit too much shade, plus my hollies are only about 3.5' right now, still fairly young |
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