Eagleston Holly — Standard and FTG from a Large Grower
Santa Fe Tree Company is a large grower of Eagleston Holly. We produce both standard and FTG (full-to-ground) forms on our Alachua farm for landscapers, garden centers, and commercial jobs across the Southeast and Texas. We ship to Texas.
A working East Coast source for wholesale Eagleston Holly
Eagleston is one of the hollies Texas and the Southeast keep asking for: glossy, dense, pyramidal, and manageable. Most material sold online is produced far from the job site. Ours are container-grown here, graded for uniformity, and sold on contract. Grown in Alachua. Delivered where the work is — including Texas.
What is an Eagleston Holly?
Eagleston Holly (Ilex × attenuata ‘Eagleston’) is a hybrid of Dahoon holly and American holly. It is a female cultivar with glossy, dark green leaves, a naturally conical habit, and red winter berries. Soft spines. Moderate growth. It holds a formal pyramid with little shearing, which is why it shows up on so many Southeast and Texas commercial plans.
We grow it in two forms:
Standard — a tree-form Eagleston with a cleaner lower trunk. Use it as a specimen, an allée, or a formal accent where you want some trunk showing.
FTG (Full to Ground) — foliage carried to the ground. This is the screen and hedge form. No bare legs. Use it on property lines, parking lots, and residential privacy jobs.
If the site wants berries without the height of a Green Giant or Leyland, Eagleston is often the right holly. We also grow Nellie Stevens, East Palatka, and Eagleston’s cousins. Tell us the site and we will spec the form.
Glossy Eagleston Holly foliage.
Eagleston Holly growing specs
Mature size is typically 15–25 feet tall and 8–15 feet wide. Hardy in USDA zones 6–9. Best in full sun to light afternoon shade. Works in clay, loam, or sand if it drains. A staple holly for the humid Southeast and a high-demand tree in Texas markets.
| Trait | Field standard |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Ilex × attenuata ‘Eagleston’ |
| Common names | Eagleston Holly, Topel Holly |
| Habit | Dense pyramidal evergreen; standard or FTG |
| Growth rate | Moderate, about 1–2 feet per year once established |
| Mature size | 15–25 ft tall × 8–15 ft wide |
| USDA zones | 6–9 (strong performer in the Southeast and Texas) |
| Sun | Full sun; tolerates partial shade |
| Soil | Clay, loam, or sand if drained; acidic to slightly alkaline |
| Berries | Female cultivar; bright red fruit in fall and winter |
| Our forms | Standard and FTG (full to ground) |
| Our wholesale sizes | 15-gallon and 30-gallon containers (other sizes on request) |
| Best jobs | Privacy screens, formal specimens, commercial and residential work in the SE and TX |
How far apart to plant Eagleston Holly
Choose the form first. FTG fills a screen. Standard reads as a tree. Then space for the finished look, not the pot size on the truck.
| Goal | Form | Spacing | Notes from the nursery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tight privacy hedge | FTG | 6–8 ft on center | Foliage to the ground. Best all-purpose screen spacing for Southeast and Texas residential jobs. |
| Standard privacy screen | FTG | 8–10 ft on center | Lets each tree keep its pyramid and still knit in a few seasons. |
| Formal row / allée | Standard | 10–12 ft on center | Shows trunk and head. Use on entries, campuses, and commercial frontage. |
| Specimen | Standard or FTG | Give it the mature width | Plant as a single accent. Do not crowd it into a hedge role unless you want a hedge. |
How to plant a container-grown Eagleston
Plant in spring or fall. Set the root flare at grade, water through the first year, and mulch off the trunk. Do not fertilize at planting. Do not bury the stem.
Site it for sun
Full sun makes the densest head and the best berry set. Light afternoon shade is fine in the hottest Texas and inland Florida sites. Avoid standing water.
Dig wide, not deep
Hole twice the container width, no deeper than the root ball. Hollies fail when the trunk is buried.
Backfill with native soil
Do not create a pot of imported mix in heavy clay. Settle soil with water as you fill.
Water the first season like it matters
Established Eaglestons handle heat. New trees in Florida and Texas summers do not. Weekly deep watering the first growing season is the difference between a tight flush and a thin interior.
Match the prune to the form
FTG: keep the skirt. Do not limb it up unless the design changes. Standard: maintain the clear trunk and let the head stay a tight pyramid. The habit is naturally uniform. Shear only if the job calls for a formal wall.
Standard vs. FTG
Same clone. Different finish. Spec the form on the purchase order so the truck matches the plan.
| Standard | FTG (Full to Ground) | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Tree form, some clear trunk | Foliage carried to the ground |
| Best use | Specimen, allée, formal commercial frontage | Privacy screen, hedge, property line |
| Limb-up | Already started | Do not limb up |
| Where it sells | Southeast and Texas specimen work | Southeast and Texas screen work |
Wholesale Eagleston Holly for real projects
Santa Fe Tree Company sells to landscape contractors, re-wholesale nurseries, garden centers, municipalities, and commercial builders across the eastern United States — including Texas. Eagleston is a high-demand holly in both the Southeast and Texas. We grow it at scale in standard and FTG so those jobs can be staged without mixing farms.
Landscape contractors
Consistent 15g and 30g material in the form the plan called for — standard or FTG.
Southeast & Texas
Popular in both markets. We build loads and ship to Texas.
Municipal & commercial
Screens, campus rows, and entry specimens that need a uniform holly, not a mixed truck.
Eagleston Holly questions we answer every week
Who grows Eagleston Holly at wholesale scale?
Santa Fe Tree Company in Alachua, Florida. We are a large grower of Eagleston Holly and offer both standard and FTG forms, shipping to landscapers and commercial buyers throughout the Southeast and Texas.
Do you ship Eagleston Holly to Texas?
Yes. Eagleston is popular in Texas, and we ship there. Tell us the count, the form (standard or FTG), and the job site. We will send availability, timing, and freight.
What is the difference between standard and FTG?
Standard is the tree form, with a cleaner lower trunk. FTG means full to ground — foliage all the way down. Spec FTG for screens and hedges. Spec standard for specimens and formal rows.
Where can I buy Eagleston Holly in bulk?
Order directly from the farm. We offer 15-gallon and 30-gallon containers, contract pricing, and coordinated delivery. Call (352) 339-0531 or email sales@santafetreeco.com.
What size should I spec?
15-gallon is the workhorse for long runs. 30-gallon is the size when the client wants more instant height. Ask for the current availability list — we update it monthly.
Will they work in Texas heat?
Yes. Eagleston is widely used across Texas and the Southeast. Full sun, drainage, and first-year water are what make the difference, not the state line. We grow them in North Florida heat and humidity so they are not adjusting from a cooler production climate.
Do they make berries?
Yes. Eagleston is a female cultivar. Expect red fruit in fall and winter, heavier in full sun.
Do you deliver?
Yes. We build truck loads for cost efficiency and deliver bulk orders across the eastern United States, including Texas.
Ready to spec Eagleston Holly from the farm?
Tell us the count, the form (standard or FTG), the size, and the job site. We are a large Eagleston grower and will send current availability, timing, and freight. Grown in Alachua. Delivered to the Southeast and Texas.
Santa Fe Tree Company · 26212 NW CR 241, Alachua, FL 32615 · (352) 339-0531 · sales@santafetreeco.com