Holly with berries?

[JW95]

I have a holly bush in my garden which does not get berries on (I’d love to have a red berried holly bush at Christmas). My parents also have a holly bush WITH berries. If I take a small cutting of my parents holly, and put that cutting next to mine… would this be enough to fertilise my plant?? If not what must I do?

Holly has female and male plants - the male has flowers, the female berries. Does yours get flowers? Should be around this time of year.

(ignoring the hermaphrodite occasions where plants have both male and female parts...)

No, mine doesn’t have flowers. My parents does though.

Is it still quite young? They can take a while to mature to 'reproductive' age. Also is yours is in full shade? They have a better chance of flowering/berrying in the sun.

It’s in a sunny spot. Yes, I did think maybe it’s still too young. I’ve had it about 2 years. I will hope for flowers and berries next year.

Ilex ‘JC Van Tol’ has both male and female flowers and berries reliably. Otherwise you need a female holly with a male close by to pollinate it.

Ah yes, @AlwaysGardening is right, if none of your neighbourhood has any holly, you'll need to plant more to cross-pollinate.

If I took my Holly (potted) to my parents, positioned it right next to theirs… would there be a chance of mine then getting flowers and berries?

You need female holly for berries so snuggling your holly by one that has berries won't work.

You or need to buy a female holly. Buy one when there are berries on it, as they are sometimes mislabelled.