The importance of hollies goes back centuries in Northern Europe, pre-dating modern religions. Holly was hung outside of dwellings to protect against evil; the evergreen leaves were used as decorations during winter as a reminder that spring would come again. In Europe, the English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) adorned doors, mantles, and accompanied trees to become the iconic symbol of the winter season. Europeans brought the tradition of decorating with holly with them across the Atlantic Ocean and found the land provided its own holly, Ilex opaca, the American Holly-a tree with equal beauty and a tenacious will to survive.

The American Holly’s fierce adaptability is evident throughout the Arboretum and Long Island at large. They grow on the Riverwalk - a coastal ecosystem that subjects its’ inhabitants to wind and salt-and they grow in the Royce Rhododendron Garden-a dry, shady woodland. They also dominate a rare ecological community called the Holly Maritime Forest, currently only found at the Fire Island National Seashore, in the Sunken Forest. In ideal growing conditions (full sun, well-draining moist soils, and protection from harsh winds), the American Holly can grow into a stately tree about 50 feet tall with a symmetrical pyramidal habit all the way down. Less than ideal growing conditions is where the inner beauty of American Hollies shine; nothing will keep this tree from surviving, but high winds and salt spray could alter its form from statuesque specimen into windswept statuette. Shadier spots will also produce thinner and more irregular forms of the tree.

When we are choosing species of plants to introduce, we often look at what is already growing here. American Hollies have grown here naturally for decades, so it makes sense to consider them in our plant palette whenever we begin a new project. This year we planted fifteen new American Hollies, comprising of two different cultivars - I. opaca ‘Dan Fenton’ and I. opaca ‘Satyr Hill.’ You can find these in the Windbreak, where we’ve placed them as successional plantings in place of trees lost. With a modest growth rate of up to 12” a year (depending on site conditions), it will be some time before these trees develop into mature specimens, but the dense habit makes them ideal screening trees and perfect for the Windbreak.

American Hollies can grow to become quite large and may not be suitable for every location, unless you plant I. opaca ‘Maryland Dwarf’, a slow growing prostrate form of the species. We have several small examples of this cultivar throughout the Arboretum but the most mature are in the Holly Walk (2015-0020). The dwarf variety of this tough evergreen shrub grows in smaller spaces. Hollies are, in general, fairly deer resistant, although desperate deer have been known to gnaw on holly branches in the Arboretum. In addition to the cultivars mentioned above, we also have a few yellow-fruited American Hollies (Ilex opaca ‘Xanthocarpa’) located in the Woodland Border (2017-0026). Yellow-fruited hollies rarely occur naturally in the wild, so the plants are propagated by cuttings to ensure the trees produce yellow berries consistently.

While we have an extensive holly collection, we are just beginning our journey to collecting more American Hollies, of which there are about 1,000 cultivars! New cultivars are often chosen for variety in berry color, density of habits, and cold tolerance, but regardless of the cultivar, American Hollies provide excellent shelter and a winter food source for birds. We won’t be able to fit our entire dream collection of Ilex opaca in the Holly Walk, so I hope you enjoy the search for American Hollies throughout the entire Arboretum for years to come.

-Jessica O'Callahan, Horticulture Coordinator

A unique part of the Arboretum that is not often explored is the Windbreak. This is a section of trees on the North side of the property that lines Montauk Highway. Commuters drive past seeing tall conifers and large canopy trees before reaching the Arboretum entrance. Windbreak is a technical term for linear rows of planted trees placed perpendicular to prevailing winds. The trees are typically evergreen, fast growing, and tough against the harsh elements. Examples include Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas Fir, and Hollies. Windbreaks have primarily been used by farmers to shield their crops from high winds and erosion. It was also a way to contain and protect livestock.

Windbreaks have been used by farmers and landowners in Europe since the 1400s. In the United States, settlers moving west adopted the use of windbreaks as well. It became popular as an agroforestry practice since the beginning of the 1900s in response to the Dust Bowl effects on the landscape. Farmers continue to find great success when implementing windbreaks around their fields. Modern day windbreaks have shown other benefits such as reducing energy costs, protecting facilities, providing wildlife habitats, decreasing noise pollution, building tree diversity, and enhancing overall aesthetics.

The Arboretum’s Windbreak was introduced in 1945. Mrs. Olivia James and her mother, Mrs. Cutting, collaborated with Robert Moses to create a windbreak. The purpose of the windbreak is what makes the project so unique. The Cutting Family suggested planting a windbreak to protect the Arboretum’s rare tree collections, especially as the Pinetum were being expanded at the time. Many of the tree specimens had been reaching maturity and becoming subject to damage from harsh weather events. Robert Moses advocated for this project to be completed for less than $1,000 with the Board of Trustees’ support. That is equivalent to roughly $17,000 today! The windbreak was planted with over 100 Norway Spruce and Hemlock seedlings which are known for growing fast and narrow, allowing for tight spacing. Today, some of those original trees still stand! Any replacements have been with the same or similar species to keep the design element and maintain a functional windbreak. 

Decades later, the Windbreak now expands almost the whole length of the Arboretum on Montauk Highway. Tree species have been chosen appropriately to protect the collections as a whole. Trees are also chosen to reflect the historical plant palette that began in the 1940s. We see the benefits of less noise pollution and more privacy so our patrons can enjoy a quiet stroll throughout the Arboretum grounds. But as trees mature and our landscape changes, we are constantly planting new introductions. The new parking lots and Visitor Center has pushed us to heavily plant the bare areas to ensure future protection. This summer, our interns planted two succession Norway Spruces to replace lost ones from a previous storm.

This fall, we planted an additional 26 trees in the Windbreak. They were sourced from Foxborough Nursery and consist of 15 American Hollies, 2 White Pines, 4 Incense Cedars, and 5 Dawn Redwoods. The plant palette follows the general guidelines of fast growing, evergreen, and hardy. These trees will continue the historical preservation of the Arboretum’s landscape while serving a practical purpose. We look forward to seeing these trees flourish into a mature windbreak that will add both beauty and protection to the Arboretum as a whole.

– Joy Arden, Landscape Curator

Come to the Arboretum to get your 2024 Calendar featuring spectacular landscape photos. It makes a wonderful holiday gift and helps support the Bayard Cutting Arboretum Horticultural Society.

Calendars can be purchased at the Welcome Desk in the Manor House (for cash or check) or at the gift shop which takes a credit card.

New merchandise and special items are always arriving! Located at the upper annex in the Manor House.

Holiday Hours are 11:00 am – 4:00pm on Tuesday through Sundays

Join certified forest therapy guide, Linda Lombardo of Wild Heart Nature Connection, on a walk to reconnect with the natural world around us.

Walk length: 120 minutes; please wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and warm clothing for walking outdoors.

Fee: $40 per person.

We welcome you and your children to explore our program. Tours are available on Tuesdays at 9:30 am. Reservations are required and payment must be made in advance. For more information, please contact Carolann Gaites, Volunteer Coordinator, at 631-581-1002, ext. 105.

Call Main Office for more information. 631-581-1002