Needlepoint Holly

Needlepoint Holly - Evergreen Landscape Shrub With Red Berries | 10-15 Feet Tall, Individual Plants

Add classic evergreen beauty and year-round structure to your landscape with the Needlepoint Holly. This popular holly variety is prized for its dense glossy foliage, upright growth habit, and bright red berries that appear in fall and winter. Known for its durability and versatility, Needlepoint Holly provides dependable evergreen coverage while adding seasonal color and wildlife interest to the garden.

Its deep green leaves feature distinctive needle-like tips that create a traditional holly appearance while remaining softer than many spiny holly varieties. In spring, small white flowers bloom along the branches and later develop into vibrant red berries that stand out beautifully against the evergreen foliage. With its dense branching and naturally attractive form, Needlepoint Holly is an excellent choice for privacy screens, hedges, and foundation plantings.

Why You'll Love the Needlepoint Holly

Bright Winter Berries: Produces vibrant red berries in fall and winter, adding seasonal color and attracting birds.

Classic Evergreen Foliage: Glossy dark green leaves provide year-round structure and traditional holly beauty.

Impressive Landscape Size: Growing 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide at maturity, making it ideal for privacy screens and large hedges.

Durable And Adaptable: Tolerates heat, humidity, and a wide range of soil conditions once established.

Needlepoint Holly Details

Botanical Name: Ilex cornuta 'Needlepoint'
Type: Evergreen shrub
Mature Size: 120-180" tall × 96-120" wide (upright dense habit)
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast growth rate
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained soil adaptable to many soil types
Water: Water regularly until established, moderate drought tolerance once mature
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7, 8, 9

Growing Conditions

Soil Adaptability: Performs best in well-drained soil but adapts easily to sandy, loamy, or clay soils. Avoid areas with standing water.

Light Requirements: Thrives in full sun for best berry production and dense growth but tolerates partial shade.

Hardiness: USDA zones 7-9, making it well suited for warm climates with strong heat tolerance.

Care Instructions

Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. Once established, this shrub becomes moderately drought tolerant.

Pruning: Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain desired shape or control size if needed.

Fertilizing: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring to promote healthy growth and berry production.

Landscaping Uses

Versatile Applications: Needlepoint Holly’s evergreen foliage and bright berries make it suitable for: privacy screens, hedges, foundation plantings, mass plantings, and winter interest gardens.

Screen & Hedge Excellence: Its dense growth and mature height make it ideal for creating natural evergreen privacy screens along fences or property lines.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Needlepoint Holly? For hedges or screens, space plants 6 to 8 feet apart on center to allow for mature spread.

Does Needlepoint Holly produce berries? Yes, this variety can produce bright red berries without a separate male pollinator in many landscapes.

Is Needlepoint Holly evergreen? Yes, it maintains its glossy green foliage year round, providing consistent structure and color in the landscape.