Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Looking for something to add some color and warmth to your winter landscape? This evergreen shrub will wow you with bright red berries, glossy dark green foliage, and an upright pyramidal form that requires very little maintenance. This variety was bred with these characteristics in mind and only requires the placement of a male blue holly bush nearby to pollinate it. Combined with its height of 6 to 8 feet, a spread of 4 to 6 feet, and crimson berries that last from fall until winter, this shrub is perfect as either a statement plant or a group to form an elegant and stately hedge. The cut foliage also makes splendid indoor and outdoor winter decorations!
Red Beauty holly has an indeterminate fragrance and grows in a smaller, denser shape than other varieties of holly. It is deer tolerant and will provide a food source for birds during the winter months and excellent bird-watching opportunities. It isn't vulnerable to pests or diseases and is typically quite hardy.
Red Beauty Holly Care
Plant this holly in an area that receives full sun in neutral to acidic soil pH. It prefers moist but well-drained loam, chalk, or clay soil. Directly after planting, water deeply to support proper root system development every day for the first week and then twice weekly until established. After being established, reduce watering to an average amount of about 2 inches of water weekly.
This variety of holly requires little to no pruning. The foliage can be sheared in the winter, but it doesn’t need pruning to retain its form. For winter care, mulch around the base, 2 to 3 inches deep, but don't touch the mulch to the bottom of the trunk.
Red Beauty Holly Spacing
Red Beauty Holly is a large shrub that can grow about 6 to 8 feet tall and has a spread of 4 to 6 feet. When planting, give it at least 4 to 5 feet of room to let it grow its mature size.
Red Beauty Holly Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 6 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 6-8 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 4-6 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Deep Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering, Winter Interest, 4 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Red Beauty Holly
- Also Known As
- Red Beauty Holly
- Botanical Name
- Ilex X rutzan 'Red Beauty'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!