Garden Landscaping 9 Plants You Should Never Grow Next to Holly, According to Pro Gardeners Avoid these varieties and your holly will thrive. By Jennifer Lobb Jennifer Lobb Jennifer Lobb is an editor and writer with nearly two decades of experience writing many topics, including gardening and personal finance. When she's not writing, she loves to cook and spend time outdoors—tending to her garden and experimenting with new plants and recipes. Editorial Guidelines Published on November 24, 2024 Close Photo: Hana Richterova / Getty Images Holly has a special place in holiday centerpieces and winter arrangements, but these hardy plants provide more than just seasonal décor. Native holly species can also offer shelter and sustenance to local wildlife, as well as a lot of aesthetic appeal. Many plants can thrive alongside holly, but some pose a threat—either by competing for space and nutrients or by leaving the plant vulnerable to pests or disease. Here, we spoke to the experts, who identified some plants and plant characteristics that can cause problems for holly. Sue Hunter, owner of Heartwood Nursery Inc. and president of the Holly Society of America Jennifer Blanchard, a horticulture instructor at Louisiana State University 7 Ground Cover Plants You Should Never Grow in Your Yard, According to Experts 01 of 09 Lilac Elena Popova / Getty Images Delicate purple lilacs are a welcome addition to any yard, but their soil needs make them poorly suited to share a location with holly. "Lilacs prefer a slightly alkaline soil," says Sue Hunter, president of the Holly Society of America and owner of Heartwood Nursery. "That's at odds with the acidic preferences of holly." 02 of 09 Japanese Cedar Getty / Marina Denisenko Also known as Japanese cryptomeria, this plant is a popular choice among landscapers and can be leveraged as either small shrubs or trees. “It can get too large," says Hunter. "The roots just get overwhelming and compete [with holly] for nutrients in the soil." 03 of 09 Hackberry Trees Getty / By Eve Livesey Hackberry trees prefer a higher pH, says Hunter, which may not make them the best neighbor for holly. That's not the only reason either: Hackberry is allelopathic, which is an issue for holly. "These plants exude chemicals through their leaves, roots, or elsewhere that can be growth inhibitors," says Jennifer Blanchard, a horticulture instructor at Louisiana State University. "They can even prevent other plants from germinating completely." 8 Trees You Should Never Plant in Your Yard, According to an Arborist 04 of 09 English Ivy Vladimir Venediktov / Getty Images English ivy is extremely aggressive, and can strike up a battle for nutrients, says Hunter. This climbing vine was introduced by European colonists in the 1700s, and is known for its invasive nature—it can cover and weaken holly plants, as well as many other species. 05 of 09 Greater Periwinkle Getty / Jacky Parker Photography Vinca vine, also known as greater periwinkle, is another invasive species that likes to spread through gardens and wreak havoc. Its aggressive tendencies are more pronounced in the Vinca major species. Vinca minor may be suitable alongside holly, but like English Ivy, Vinca major can be problematic for an array of plants. 06 of 09 Spindle Tree Getty / imageBROKER Helmut Meyer zur Capellen Spindle tree may not leave your holly berry fighting for nutrients or space, but it's known for being a big host for scale insects, according to Hunter. Holly plants are notably hardy, but scale, which eats away at the underside of leaves, can be a formidable foe. If left untreated, the end result is plant damage and potentially death. 07 of 09 Ground Cover Junipers Getty / Laura Shapranova Ground cover junipers, such as creeping juniper, which are commonly used by landscapers, can present an underground problem for holly. "They have very aggressive roots that may not be friendly to any holly species," says Hunter. 7 Ground Cover Plants You Should Never Grow in Your Yard, According to Experts 08 of 09 Cypress Varietals Getty / Sunrise@dawn Photography Cypress varietals are commonly used in landscaping, but if you want to grow holly plants, then you may want to avoid combining the two. "Cypress have very, very aggressive roots and can get large quickly," says Hunter. "So it's not a good idea to plant the gold thread cypress—or others—near or close to hollies." 09 of 09 Black Walnut florentina georgescu photography / Getty Images “Black walnut releases a compound called juglone that's toxic to many plants, including the holly plant,” says Blanchard. This can create an inhospitable environment for holly, making it challenging for it to thrive. Tips for Choosing Companion Plants Consider pH needs: “Hollies prefer a soil pH of 5.0 to 6.0, so they're they're acid-loving," says Hunter. "Any species of plant that would prefer a higher pH shouldn't be planted near hollies."Be mindful of root systems: Complex root systems can leave plants fighting for an array of resources. “You wouldn't really want to plant a large tree next to holly,” says Blanchard. "It’s not just nutrient resources, but light resources and water resources too."Ensure exposure to sunlight: Always consider how a pairing will affect sun exposure. Holly likes full sun or partial shade, says Blanchard, so large trees or invasive vines that block sunlight can prevent it from thriving.Keep spacing in mind: Spacing depends on the particular species, but it's definitely something to consider as you choose a companion plant. Holly can range in size from smaller, shrub-like varieties to taller, more expansive trees, so it’s important to determine scale before you put down any roots.Choose native species: “Avoid planting [holly] near non-native invasive species—that's going to be a direct competition for resources,” says Blanchard. Hunter recommends spicebush, high and low bush blueberries, pinxterbloom azalea, native evergreen rhododendrons, and native viburnums, such as mapleleaf viburnum. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit