The Christmas decorating season is here! So, as we get ready to deck the halls once again this year, let's take a closer look at two of our most popular and traditional berried evergreens - holly and mistletoe. You may be surprised to learn that the customary hanging of these boughs dates back to a time long before Christmas was ever celebrated. Because neither holly nor mistletoe loses its leaves during winter (indeed, they even bear fruit), each was considered to be something special, even magical, at a time of year when other plants were barren. The holly most often used and sold by professional florists is the English Holly (Ilex aquifolium), whose botanical name means "pointed leaves." The English Holly and its many cultivars are noted for having lustrous, dark green leaves in the typical holly shape, and abundant, bright red berries. It's also available in an attractive variegated form. In the landscape, the English Holly is slightly tender, meaning that [...]