At an HSA Board of Trustees meeting in 2002, someone suggested that the Holly Society begin recommending a "holly of the year." It would be an ideal way to bring superlative hollies to the attention of the public and to introduce gardeners and nurserymen to the existance of the Holly Society of America. In naming the program, the board honored the late Gene Eisenbiess, a holly expert from the National Arboretum who had done so much over the years to help the Society.

The committee in charge of selecting the Gene Eisenbeiss Holly of the Year try to pick out hollies that are available at a wide range of nurseries, would be easy to grow, and would be hardy in a number of USDA Hardiness Zones.

2003 'Satyr Hill' American Holly • 2004 'Sky Pencil' Japanese Holly • 2005 'Lassie' Koenheana Holly

2006 'Sunny Foster' Attenuata Holly • 2007 'Lewis' English Holly

2008 'Maryland Beauty' Winterberry Holly • 2009 Ilex 'Scepter'

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