Hybrid Holly
Nellie R. Stevens
Evergreen · Female · Red berries · Zones 6-9
Hybrid Holly
Cardinal
Compact Red Holly with rich red winter berries.
Cardinal is an evergreen hybrid holly valued for its heavy crop of red berries and its easy, resilient growth. Below is a full profile of Cardinal — its characteristics, how to grow it, whether it needs a pollinator for berries, and answers to the questions gardeners ask most.
About Cardinal
Cardinal belongs to the hybrid hollies, a group defined by a fast-growing, dense, broadly pyramidal evergreen. Led by the fast, self-fruitful Nellie R. Stevens, the hybrid hollies are modern crosses bred for dense pyramidal form and outstanding privacy screening.
Cardinal is evergreen and hardy across USDA zones 6-9, so it suits a wide range of gardens with the right acidic, well-drained soil and seasonal care.
Characteristics and form
Cardinal makes a fast-growing, dense, broadly pyramidal evergreen, typically around 8-12 ft tall and 8 to 15 feet wide. Its foliage is glossy, dark green, moderately spined leaves. Knowing a holly's mature size and habit is the key to placing it well: give Cardinal room to reach its full spread without crowding, which also keeps air moving through the plant and disease at bay.
Berries and pollination
Cardinal is a female holly, so it carries the red berries — but only when a compatible male holly flowers within about fifty feet. Bees move the pollen; without a male in range, a female holly still flowers but sets little or no fruit.
Remember: holly is dioecious — male and female flowers grow on separate plants, and only pollinated females bear fruit. See our full guide to holly berries and pollination for how to guarantee a berry crop.
How to grow Cardinal
Plant Cardinal where it will get full sun to part shade in acidic, moist, well-drained soil. Full sun gives the densest growth and the heaviest berry set. Set the plant at the depth it grew in the pot, water it deeply while it establishes, and mulch the root zone to hold moisture and keep the soil cool and acidic.
- Light: Full sun to part shade; full sun gives the densest growth and the most berries.
- Soil: Acidic, moist, and well-drained, ideally pH 5.0–6.5. Improve heavy or alkaline ground with organic matter and keep it mulched.
- Water: Deep, regular watering while establishing; steady summer moisture helps hold the berry crop.
- Feeding: An acid-forming holly fertilizer in early spring keeps the foliage deep green.
- Pruning: Shape in late winter, before growth begins, to preserve the flowers that become berries.
Where to use Cardinal in the garden
Cardinal suits fast privacy screens, tall evergreen hedges, specimen trees, and berry-for-winter plantings. Line several as a quick screen, or stand one as a specimen where its dense pyramid and red winter berries carry the view.
Common problems and care
Most hybrid hollies grow quickly and easily in full sun to part shade and well-drained, slightly acidic soil, needing only late-winter shaping. Watch for the usual holly troubles — leaf miner, scale, and spider mites, and root rot in soggy ground — and head them off with the right site, good drainage, and good air flow. Yellowing leaves usually signal alkaline soil or poor drainage rather than disease.
Cardinal — frequently asked questions
How big does Cardinal get?
Cardinal grows into a fast-growing, dense, broadly pyramidal evergreen, typically reaching 8-12 ft tall and 8 to 15 feet wide. Its final size depends on your climate, the site, and how you prune it.
Does Cardinal have berries, and does it need a male holly?
Cardinal is female and bears red berries, but it needs a compatible male holly flowering within about fifty feet to pollinate it. One male can pollinate several nearby females.
Is Cardinal evergreen or deciduous?
Cardinal is evergreen, holding its glossy, dark green, moderately spined leaves through the winter.
What hardiness zones does Cardinal grow in?
Cardinal is hardy in USDA zones 6-9. That range describes the winter cold it can survive; gardeners colder than zone 6 should give it a sheltered site or choose a hardier holly.
Is Cardinal easy to grow?
Most hybrid hollies grow quickly and easily in full sun to part shade and well-drained, slightly acidic soil, needing only late-winter shaping. Give Cardinal an acidic, well-drained soil and the ordinary seasonal care any holly appreciates, and it is a straightforward, low-maintenance shrub.
When should I prune Cardinal?
Prune Cardinal in late winter, while it is dormant and before spring growth begins — that shapes the plant without removing the flower buds that become the next season's berries.