Heartwood specializes in the propagation of many different Holly selections, most of which are native to the eastern Piedmont and transitional regions. 
 

As the largest propagator of American Holly in the United States, we propagate and grow over 20,000 American Holly plants each year, making our nursery a success story for this native species, designated as threatened in the wild in  Pennsylvania. 
 

Holly propagation begins in July, once the new growth has hardened, and continues into late fall or early winter. We do all of our Holly propagation on-site with cutting wood taken on the property. With over 35 years of propagation experience, Heartwood Nursery implements practices that result in high success rates and ensures that your Holly cuttings are grown with the very best care.
 

Heartwood Nursery has introduced and registered the following selections: Ilex verticillata ‘Elfman’, Ilex verticillata ‘Mary Jo’, Ilex opaca ‘Liberty Belle’, Ilex opaca ‘Uncle Sam’, Ilex opaca ‘Sundown’, and Ilex opaca ‘Forest Totem’. They were selected for outstanding characteristics such as growth habit, berry set and color, leaf shape, and consistent performance over many years.
 

Heartwood Nursery owner Sue Hunter has been honored with the National William F. Kosar Award from the Holly Society of America. This award is given to “an outstanding plantsman for contributions to the hybridization, evaluation, selection, and introduction of hollies” and “has excelled in breeding, propagating, and collecting hollies, has contributed to the Holly Society Journal or other publications, and has generally been of great service to the Holly Society of America.” Learn more at Holly Society of America awards.​