Holly : a shrub with evergreen foliage

Holly is often a shrub. It usually has leaves that stay green all year. Some types lose their leaves when it gets cold. Holly bushes grow best in warm or mild climates. Gardeners like holly because it has a full shape. Its bright leaves and colorful berries stand out.

Holly can be vines, bushes, or trees. The leaves are green. The color can be light or dark. Some leaves have two colors. The edges can be smooth. Some have thorns. Others have jagged edges.

Holly flowers are small. They don't look like much. In the spring, tiny, light-colored flowers grow where the leaves meet the stem. Some plants have male flowers. Others have female flowers.

Some holly plants have both kinds of flowers on one bush. This is rare. Berries grow after the flowers. They can be white, black, or yellow. Often, they are orange or red. The berries look nice. They keep their color all winter.

Holly berries are not safe for people. They are poisonous. Birds can eat them without harm. Holly is not dangerous to birds.