Foster #2 Holly is a large evergreen shrub with a dense upright pyramidal form and tiny spined green leaves.  Its small white late spring flowers give way to bright red berries that persist well into winter.  Best planted in moist, slightly acidic well-drained soils.  Foster #2 is a partially self-fertile female cultivar that doesn't need a male to fruit, but a male pollinator would greatly increase the berry density.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Low Maintenance.  Water regularly.   Well-drained soils essential.   Potential issues include mites, scale, leaf spot, rot, and mildew.  Susceptible to leaf scorch or drop if not protected from afternoon sun in hotter climates.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Privacy Screen, Hedges, Foundation Plantings, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS:  Azalea, Hydrangea, Peony

IMAGES: Photo by David J. Stang, Ilex x attenuata Foster No 2 3zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) Photo by David J. Stang, Ilex x attenuata Foster No 2 1zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) Photo by David J. Stang, Ilex x attenuata Foster No 2 2zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (4) Photo by David J. Stang, Ilex x attenuata Fosteri 3zz, CC BY-SA 4.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.