The Midweek Program - "Deeper in the Garden - Hollies!"

Presented by Mark Weathington, Director, and Blake Wentley, Education Assistant, JC Raulston Arboretum on December 10, 2025.

Hollies are so much more than the familiar sprigs of red and green we see around the holidays. In fact, this diverse group of plants offers an incredible range of shapes, colors, and textures that shine in every season. Join our Director Mark for a closer look at the arboretum's remarkable collection of Ilex and discover how much there is to love—from glossy leaves and bright berries to their surprising value for pollinators and wildlife. This deep dive will have you seeing hollies in a whole new light—and maybe even planning space for a few more at home!

Plant list:

Ilex opaca 'Rollover'
Ilex cornuta 'O. Spring'
Ilex 'Whoa Nellie'
Ilex latifolia 'Gulino Gardens'
Ilex integra
Ilex integra 'Green Shadow'
Ilex ×attenuata
Ilex ×attenuata 'Sunny Foster'
Ilex ×attenuata 'Nasa'
Ilex crenata
Ilex crenata 'Drops of Gold'
Ilex crenata 'Adorned'
Ilex vomitoria
Ilex vomitoria 'Yawkey'
Ilex vomitoria 'Tricolor'
Ilex myrtifolia 'Duling's Variegated'
Ilex sugerokii subsp. longipedunculata
Ilex aff. ficoidea/ Ilex aff. pedunculosa
Ilex dimorphophylla
Ilex verticillata 'NCIV1'
Ilex micrococca
Ilex pubescens
Ilex buergeri

This program was originally presented live online. Tune into our midweek program live on Zoom, Wednesdays at 3:00pm eastern time. Here's the link: https://jcra.ncsu.edu/midweek/