Hollies (Ilex) are a total staple in parks and home landscapes alike. If you’ve fallen in love with these glossy evergreens and want more of them for your yard, I have great news: they are actually super easy to propagate yourself! You don’t need to be a pro, though you will need a little bit of patience.
Your Options for Growing More Holly
Just like many of our favorite garden plants, there are a few different ways to get the job done:
- Growing from seeds
- Taking cuttings
- Using the layering method
Growing New Hollies from Seed
This is definitely the “slow and steady” route, but it’s about as low-effort as it gets.
When those bright red berries start popping in the fall, you can simply press a few of them into some loose, well-draining soil. Just a heads-up: don’t expect instant results! It can sometimes take up to three years for those seeds to finally sprout into tiny holly plants.
Nature actually has its own little helpers here, too. Birds love those red berries; they digest the fruit and “deposit” the seeds elsewhere in their droppings. If you find a random little holly seedling popping up in a weird spot in your yard, you can easily dig it up and move it to wherever you actually want it.
Propagating with Cuttings
If you want to be a bit more hands-on, try taking cuttings in late summer or early fall. Look for strong side shoots and snip them into sections about 8 inches long. Strip off the bottom two to four leaves so you have a clean stem to work with. I recommend dipping the ends in some rooting hormone before planting them directly in a good spot in the garden or starting them in pots. If you go the pot route, keep them protected during the winter—a bright room around 45°F (7°C) is perfect.
You can even try rooting them in a simple glass of water!
Pro tip: If you’re already trimming your holly hedge in the fall, don’t toss those clippings—use them as your starter material!
The Layering Method
Layering is another “set it and forget it” trick that works wonders. Find a long, flexible side branch, bend it down until it touches the ground, and pin it there with a heavy stone or a piece of landscape wire. Heap a little soil over the middle of the branch, leaving just the tip poking out. After a while, that buried section will grow its own root system. Once it’s established, you can just snip it away from the “mother” plant and move your new holly to its forever home.
