Photo: istockphoto.com

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Holly bushes—which can usually be identified by their stiff, spiny foliage and red, yellow, or black berries—require little care unless you want to keep them sheared into hedges. In most cases, you will need both male and female bushes should you want the females to produce berries.

Hollies can serve as foundation shrubs for the front of your house , or you can shape them into trees instead. The popular types of holly bushes below include the Japanese, Chinese, American, English, yaupon, blue, and winterberry categories, each of which have their own cultivars, recommended hardiness zones, and best uses within a home landscape.

1. Drops of Gold Japanese Holly ( Ilex crenata ‘Drops of Gold’)

Photo: Monrovia

Due to their small, spineless leaves and (usually) black berries, Japanese holly bushes don’t look like typical hollies and may be mistaken for boxwood shrubs .…