Hollies

Contents

• Propagation
• Rabbit Cottage Plantings

Propagation

From semi-ripe cuttings in late summer:

1. In August / September, take a semi-hardwood cutting 3-6 inches long just below a node.
2. Leave the top two sets of leaves and remove all others.
3. Dip in rooting hormone and then put in a prepared milk jug, firming soil gently to secure it. (don't use that crap potting soil from ace hardware, it's all clay!)
4. Close milk jug, tape it shut. Write - with grease pencil - date of prop. and plant type
5. Place it on north side of house, out of direct sun and try to forget about it for a while (you're going to futz with it, knock it off)
6. Check in about a month for roots by testing for resistance or looking at bottom of jug.

You don't want the milk jug to dry out, but similarly you don't want it soggy. Follow the general winter sowing guidelines for moisture.

From hardwood cuttings while plant is dormant:

Rabbit Cottage Plantings

Ilex x. meserveae 'Blue Prince' and 'Blue Princess', in the front yard

In 2026, we have two Ilex x. meserveae 'Blue Prince(ss)', which I am writing in this weird way because they're from Farmer's Daughter and they're, as far as I can tell, a Blue Princess with a male branch grafted on. They berry heavily and do not grow very large, they're hardy to RI's new frequent droughts, and the foliage is dense and tinged blue. U.S. Plant Patent PP3,675 was issued on January 7, 1975 so it expired in 2000 and thus it's open game for propagation.¹ It would make sense to propagate just the Blue Princess and not the Blue Prince going forward, unless bringing them to an entirely new site...

2026-09-20 — The eastern holly in the front had a branch split during the February 2026 big snow storm, but it didn't die. Instead, it's laying on the ground, sending up new growth, and the holly doesn't look much sparse for the lack of it. I'm going to cut this branch off in the fall and take cuttings from it for propagation. The branch is female and so will produce berries. The western holly needs to be pruned.

Ilex verticillata; Winterberry

I don't have any, yet, but I know where I might get some cuttings or berries from somebody wth winterberry. These would be ideal along the western side of the house, in the 3 foot wide area along the driveway. It's mostly in shade and it's a bit difficult to find interesting things to put there that won't require much maintenance. Red berries contrasting with the white of the house would be beautiful in winter.

2026-09-27: Berries and cuttings acquired, but I'm not sure the cuttings will work. They're a little too hard for semi-ripe, and the plant's not dormant for hardwood. Maybe try again in spring.