Ilex x attenuata (East Palatka Holly)
Ilex x attenuata (East Palatka Holly) – Beautiful for Christmas Foliage
If for some unknown reason all of the calendars disappeared, you would still know it is close to Christmas if you were able to see an East Palatka Holly tree. This evergreen ornamental tree is covered with bright red holly berries as the winter approaches, but still maintains its green foliage.
We have found this to be a great tree for our Florida landscaping.
The trees pictured are about fifteen years old, but have required almost no care. They have maintained an attractive pyramidal shape with little coaxing or pruning. Most importantly, they have a narrow growing habit and are great for small spaces. We found these trees to be an ideal screen in the narrow space between us and our neighbors.
The berries are a great colorful addition to wreaths, garlands, or other Christmas decorations. There are so many berries that no one will notice if you’ve clipped a few branches to use in your holiday decorating. This tree can be successfully grown in many parts of the country. For more information on this hardy specimen, visit the University of Florida Extension Agency.
