how to know if holly bush is male or female?

Answer 1

It's really impossible to tell until the bush berries.
"There are male and female hollies, but fruit is found only on female hollies after pollination. Fruit colors are red, orange, yellow, black, or white, depending on the species and cultivar."
Sometimes when you buy one, the nurseries will have tagged the holly as male or female, which helps.
Check out this website for more detailed information:

Answer 2

If it gets berries, then it is a female. If it is the only holly bush in the neighborhood, then you may never find out. Check the blossoms. Female blossoms tend to be closer the the branch and male blossoms are more outward, thinner and tend to brush off. Good luck! :)

Answer 3

In parts of England and Germany, the man ruled if prickly or "he" holy was brought home at Christmas. Smooth leafed "she" holly ensured the woman's rule.
This peasant superstition recognized a key botanical fact: Holly plants are dioecious (either male of female). But their gender definitions were worng: It's the berries not the leaves that are the key distinguishing sexual feature of hollies. Female hollies have berries. Males do not.

Trust your garden center that they have labeled them correctly.

Answer 4

You know I hadn't realized that holly bushes were male or female, now I'm going to have to watch them when they bloom. Thanks to the answers that were given. I learned something new. Sorry, I didn't have a real answer, but am glad someone had one for you!! :)

Answer 5

This may be a first. Everyone has a good answer so I'll just say nice going and leave it at that.