Holly’s White Color Depends on Fast Drying

Fresh American Holly can develop bluish-gray fungal staining when drying is delayed. Commercial Holly is therefore commonly winter-cut and kiln-dried soon after sawing to preserve its unusually pale color.

Practical takeaway: Process green Holly promptly, rough-turn it with even walls and begin controlled drying immediately. When buying dry blanks for white ornaments, finials or contrasting accents, select uniformly pale stock without gray staining.