The fruit turn a bright red in fall. A plant often associated with the Christmas season is holly. Unfortunately, most hollies are not reliably hardy in Iowa. A native, deciduous holly and several hybrid broadleaf evergreen hollies can be successfully grown in Iowa. It is native to northeast Iowa and grows 6 to 10 feet tall.
Hollies are dioecious.
There are separate male and female plants. The fruit on female plants turn a bright red in fall and persist into winter. A male variety must also be planted for pollination and fruit set. They should be planted in protected areas, such as the east side of a house. Its green leaves change to orange or reddish purple in the fall.