American Holly
Jersey Princess
Evergreen · Female · Red berries · Zones 5-9
American Holly
Dan Fenton
Selected for exceptionally glossy foliage and reliable heavy fruit.
Dan Fenton is an evergreen american holly valued for its heavy crop of red berries and its easy, resilient growth. Below is a full profile of Dan Fenton — its characteristics, how to grow it, whether it needs a pollinator for berries, and answers to the questions gardeners ask most.
About Dan Fenton
Dan Fenton belongs to the american holly, a group defined by a dense, broadly pyramidal large shrub or small tree. Ilex opaca is the quintessential native Christmas holly of the eastern United States, grown as much for the birds it feeds as for the greenery it supplies.
Dan Fenton is evergreen and hardy across USDA zones 5-9, so it suits a wide range of gardens with the right acidic, well-drained soil and seasonal care.
Characteristics and form
Dan Fenton makes a dense, broadly pyramidal large shrub or small tree, typically around 20-30 ft tall and 10 to 20 feet wide at maturity. Its foliage is matte, dark green, stiff leaves edged with sharp spines. Knowing a holly's mature size and habit is the key to placing it well: give Dan Fenton room to reach its full spread without crowding, which also keeps air moving through the plant and disease at bay.
Berries and pollination
Dan Fenton 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 Dan Fenton
Plant Dan Fenton 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 Dan Fenton in the garden
Dan Fenton suits specimen trees, tall screens and windbreaks, native and wildlife plantings, and holiday greenery. Underplant it with acid-loving shrubs such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and mountain laurel, or let it anchor a native woodland edge.
Common problems and care
American holly is tough and long-lived, asking mainly for acidic, well-drained soil and protection from harsh drying wind in the coldest zones. 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.
Dan Fenton — frequently asked questions
How big does Dan Fenton get?
Dan Fenton grows into a dense, broadly pyramidal large shrub or small tree, typically reaching 20-30 ft tall and 10 to 20 feet wide at maturity. Its final size depends on your climate, the site, and how you prune it.
Does Dan Fenton have berries, and does it need a male holly?
Dan Fenton 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 Dan Fenton evergreen or deciduous?
Dan Fenton is evergreen, holding its matte, dark green, stiff leaves edged with sharp spines through the winter.
What hardiness zones does Dan Fenton grow in?
Dan Fenton is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. That range describes the winter cold it can survive; gardeners colder than zone 5 should give it a sheltered site or choose a hardier holly.
Is Dan Fenton easy to grow?
American holly is tough and long-lived, asking mainly for acidic, well-drained soil and protection from harsh drying wind in the coldest zones. Give Dan Fenton 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 Dan Fenton?
Prune Dan Fenton 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.