I have had a Blue Prince and Princess holly for 9 years. The princess is covered in berries (as usual) at this time. Today, however, I noticed 2 red berries on the male. Is this common? It has never happened before.
I have not heard of this before. Some hollies are self pollinating. It is possible that you have a variety that is like this or lightly mixed with a variety that is. That is the only thing I can think of.
I just noticed a white, fuzzy-looking substance on the branches of three of my 'Blue Princess' holly bushes. On one shrub, one of the branches that is covered with this substance has died. I cannot tell if it is an insect infestation or some kind of fungus. Is anyone familiar with this problem? Can you please tell me what it might be and what to do to control the problem? I don't want to lose these three shrubs.
It sounds like it might be mealybug. This article will help with that:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/mealybugs-white-residue-on-plants-leaves.htm
If it's powdery in nature, however, then it could be powdery mildew. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/powdery-mildew-homemade-and-organic-remedies.htm
We have a Blue Prince holly that was planted last summer. It thrived all summer and had good growth by fall. This winter it turned brown and looks dead. It is supposed to be able to be grown in our area. I have a new Blue Princess to plant this spring but I don't want to plant it until I figure out why the Blue Prince died back. We had a very wet summer last year and the area where they are planted is fairly wet. . . would this cause it or could it be another problem? Aren't these hollies supposed to stay evergreen through winter? We weren't able to find a Princess last summer so the Prince was planted alone. Would that cause the die back or could it be the ground? Will this green up once it gets warmer?
The wet soil is likely the problem. Wet soil that freezes in the winter is very hard on the roots of plants and it actually what kills more plants in winter than the actual cold. They are suppose to stay green, but if the stems are alive still, it may regrow it leaves. This article will help you determine if the plant is still alive: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/how-to-tell-if-a-plant-is-dead-and-how-to-recover-an-almost-dead-plant.htm Beyond that, I would either try to improve the drainage in the area before planting the other one or choose a new, better draining location.
Have a Blue Prince and a Blue Princess holly. They are very sparse and sickly looking, especially the princess. In the past they have not been like this. What can I do to improve their health? They have very few leaves and are yellowish in color. They had very few berries this winter.
I would suspect possibly chlorosis. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/holly-yellow-leaves.htm Regardless, I would fertilize and also treat the plant with a fungicide, as these two things will help fix many of the other possible causes for the unhealthy plants.
Why do the leaves turn yellow? I have three bushes and one with no berries and leaves are yellow.
This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/holly-yellow-leaves.htm
My Blue Princess holly, planted late last summer, has brownish colored berries instead of red berries. Any ideas?
From my research the Princess Blue Holly berries generally start a bright red but will turn brown to almost black...but generally this will happen during the winter.
If the Holly appears healthy I would not be concerned over the color of the berries.
Holly berries can be reds, burgundy's, browns, blacks and rarely yellow and green.
Do you have to have both male and female? Will the female bloom and berry if you do not? I live in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains. Thanks, Sarah.
Yes, you do have to have both male and female plants to produce berries on the female. The female will produce flowers without a male nearby, though. This is true of Princess varieties as well as most holly varieties. There are also a few parthenocarpic varieties, meaning the female can produce berries without being pollinated by a male.