False Holly 'Party Lights'

About this plant

Party Lights False Holly (Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Party Lights') truly lives up to its name, offering a festive display of color throughout the year. Its unique, holly-like leaves emerge flushed with an attractive pinkish-red hue, maturing to a glossy dark green with creamy-yellow margins. This adaptable shrub provides year-round interest and texture to any garden design. Beyond its striking foliage, 'Party Lights' occasionally produces small, fragrant white flowers in the fall, adding a subtle sweetness to the autumn air. Its dense, upright growth habit makes it an excellent choice for hedges, foundation plantings, or as a vibrant specimen in mixed borders. This cultivar is exceptionally hardy and performs well in a variety of conditions, making it a reliable and low-maintenance addition to your landscape. Its unique coloration sets it apart, ensuring 'Party Lights' will be a focal point in your garden design.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Easy to care for, 'Party Lights' False Holly thrives with minimal attention once established. Pruning can be done in late winter or early spring to maintain its desired shape and size. It has good disease and pest resistance.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.