Lots of people grow Ilex here, where the soil is bad and summers hot and dry. But as you go further west, where it gets even drier, Holly has to be watered more regularly in summer. You can grow Ilex, Barb, if you choose species carefully (NOT the holly they grow in Vancouver!) and water in summer.

Tim- The second pic in your series looks like an I. pernyi hybrid. The next one (third) just looks like a very glossy I. opaca!

I grow the American Holly. It does OK here but I don't think it will amount to much long term...

A few Holly Pics from Vineland research station (near St. Catherines ONT)... For what it's worth...

English Holly (I. aquifolium):
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2142099030072511707riITL V"><img src=" " alt="DSC03195"></a>

Another English holly (this one has yellow berries):
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2199670670072511707XGTXn R"><img src=" " alt="DSC03203"></a>

Rhodies and holly (I. opaca):
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2624745190072511707vDHQz p"><img src=" " alt="DSC03192"></a>

Holly hybrid (unsure on I.D.)
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2151014570072511707jpxMP a"><img src=" " alt="DSC03176"></a>

Another:
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2342672640072511707Vnenl p"><img src=" " alt="DSC03171"></a>

A I. pernyi hybrid:
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2611266060072511707YaDrB O"><img src=" " alt="DSC03154"></a>

<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2919378910072511707NbMnh u"><img src=" " alt="DSC03155"></a>

Mahonia:
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2341443120072511707IQrnH w"><img src=" " alt="DSC03157"></a>

Hi Paul,

I like the Holly with the non-serrated leaf edge.

Hi Barb,

I agree lack of moisture is likely your biggest enemy with Holly's. You'll have to try a more protected/shaded area like beneath a tree??

Will just wait for a true Zone five-er.
Too much babying involved otherwise.

Have lived in Vernon for eons, and have never seen a holly even in the older more protected sections of town.

That non-serrated edge one does look lovely Tim.

Paul, I think pic number is maybe an Osmanthus. There is a twenty foot tall osmanthus at Vineland nurseries. Looks like that. I also have Osmanthus 'Goshiki' growing here outdoors for the past two years.

O 'Goshiki':

And Ilex blueboy/bluegirl grafted two year old planted out in our front yard:

To the right, Ilex cornuta 'golden gem', three years out front, doing OK, but we lost one due to soil shrink and under watering in the third year. On the left, Ilex aquifolium 'Aurea Marginata' been planted out there for two winters now.

All of these have experienced -17c temperatures a dozen times and -20c once for ten hours.

I agree supplemental watering is necessary at summer's peak.

Adam

Tim, pic number 5. May be Osmanthus.
Adam

Hey Adam,

I can see why you say that. It's labelled as JT morris (if you look it up this is I. cornuta x I. pernyi). A very different looking plant!

Man do I ever wish I could grow I. aquifolium! The leaves are fantastic on that species!