Jersey Knight American Holly (Ilex opaca ‘Jersey Knight’) boasts a dense, upright form that brings lasting greenery to any landscape. Its leaves, deep and glossy, feature classic holly spines, setting it apart from lesser evergreen options. Reaching about 20 to 30 feet tall, it creates a striking silhouette that draws attention in hedges, corners, or as a unique specimen. Although it produces no berries, this vigorous male cultivar pollinates many female hollies, leading to abundant fruit on neighboring female plants.
Jersey Knight thrives under a broad range of conditions and is fully hardy in Zones 5 through 9. It adapts to varying soil types as long as drainage remains consistent and tolerates moderate drought once established. Deer often avoid these spiny leaves, making it a smart choice for deer-prone areas. Place it as a screen along your property’s edge, group a few for a uniform hedge, or introduce it as a shapely accent in a mixed border. With minimal upkeep, this American native offers an enduring focal point.
Jersey Knight American Holly Care
Select a spot that receives full sun to partial shade, depending on your climate. Choose a location with moist but well-drained soil, amending with organic matter if necessary to boost fertility. Water regularly for the first season or two, letting the surface dry slightly between sessions, then scale back as roots establish. An acid-based, slow-release fertilizer applied in spring encourages darker foliage and steady growth. If soil pH tends toward alkaline, consider periodic acidifying treatments to maintain leaf color and overall vigor.
Pruning typically involves shaping the holly and removing any damaged or dead wood. Light shearing works well if forming a more structured hedge, but maintaining a natural habit requires just minor snipping in late spring or early summer. For container cultivation, monitor root growth and upgrade to a larger pot if the plant becomes root-bound. In colder regions, a protective layer of mulch around the base can help guard against harsh winter winds.
Jersey Knight American Holly Spacing
When forming a hedge or screen, space plants 4 to 6 feet apart, ensuring adequate room for branches to interlock without becoming overcrowded. For a more open layout or single specimens, allow a minimum of 8 to 10 feet on all sides so each plant’s pyramidal shape can develop freely. Containers should be at least 16 inches wide and deep, offering enough room for root growth. Increase pot size as needed, monitoring for signs of restricted roots or stunted growth.
- SKU:
- 1231015246-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations