December Plant of the Month

Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua)

This plant attracts so much attention because of its spectacular and unique presentation of red, orange, and yellow fruit, which appear when the foliage drops in November or early December. The colorful berries usually remain all winter unless they are removed by the cedar waxwing or one of the other nine species known to feed on the fruit.

Possum-haw hollies are useful in the landscape as large shrubs or small trees, and may occur with single or multiple trunks. Female plants are preferred, since male selections are fruitless and provide little ornamental value.

Culture is easy. Possum-haws are native from East Texas to western regions of the state, and grow in a wide variety of soil and moisture conditions. They tolerate poor drainage quite well, but will thrive under fairly dry situations.

Availability is getting better, but expect some difficulty in locating nursery-grown plants. Some nurseries are now growing female selections from cuttings, which assures the fruit color and sex of the plant. Seeds are easily propagated, but this often results in a high percentage of male plants. Determining their gender is not practical until plants are old enough to flower, which may be in 2 to 4 years. If collecting specimens from their native habitat, two things should be kept in mind. First, select a plant with at least a few berries; second, unless you have access to large-scale digging equipment, choose a small plant. Possum-haws grow quickly once established; however, large collected plants can be slow to recover from transplanting. Ilex decidua is a beautiful and potentially useful small tree adapted to most of Texas. Increasing availability should make it a popular choice for many home owners. (Dr. William C. Welch, Landscape Horticulturist Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University. Link to article on TX A&M Web Site.

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PREFERRED VENDORS

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COMPANY BACKGOUND

Lost Valley Gardens (LVG) has two primary business divisions, the wholesale nursery and growing operation, and the landscape services operation. Lost Valley Gardens wholesale nursery is dedicated to providing high quality, organically grown, herb, bedding, and vegetable plants to local retail nurseries, restaurants, garden centers, and landscapers. The nursery does not use any synthetic chemicals, pesticides, fungicides or herbicides in its production process.

The plant material produced by the Lost Valley Gardens nursery is propagated from seeds and cuttings in the propagation area of the greenhouse. The seeds are high quality, organically certified (whenever possible) and obtained from reputable vendors or from plants growing on the nursery grounds. The cuttings are obtained from organically grown plants on the nursery grounds. Crop pests, weeds, and diseases are controlled primarily through management practices including physical, mechanical, and biological controls. When these practices are not sufficient, a biological, botanical, or synthetic substance approved for use on the National List is used.

The Lost Valley Gardens landscape services division provides a comprehensive set of services ranging from design and installation to maintenance. Emphasis is placed on esthetically pleasing, yet practical and sustainable landscapes.

The company's philosophy is based on an integrated, balanced view and practice of living and working in a manner which is completely dedicated to enhancing and improving the environment and the community's quality of life. This philosophy is reflected in our high quality products and services, the methods, techniques, and materials used, and the service oriented attitude that results from a sincere desire to please our clients.

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