Xela's Garden

Holly (Common) [S]

Genus: Ilex.

Species: Ilex aquifolium.

Planted ? Shenstone hedging

Common Name: Common holly
Genus: Ilex
Species: aquifolium
Skill Level: Beginner
Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Dry
Height: 2000cm
Spread: 800cm
Time to plant seeds: October to March

Common holly is a useful evergreen shrub that can be grown as a specimen tree, clipped bushes or as a hedge. There are dozens of varieties, many with variegated leaves. Plants are either male or female. Both sexes are required for the female plants to produce their winter berries, which appear from late autumn to mid-winter. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Holly, Ilex

Holly plants have attractive berries and shiny, evergreen leaves offering year-round colour and interest. The berries are ideal for attracting wildlife and sprigs of holly have always been a popular Christmas decoration.
In this article
Recommended varieties
Growing tips

Problem solver
Where to see them

Recommended varieties

Holly can be grown as a bushy shrub or small specimen tree. Its dense, slow-growing habit makes it suitable for topiary training and it can also be used as a windbreak and burglar deterrent.

The colour of the berries varies from red to scarlet, black and yellow, but unless you have a self-pollinating variety, you need to plant both male and female plants. Ask for details of the plant's sex before purchasing at a garden centre.

Cultivar names aren't always a good guide to the plant's sex. Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Queen' is a male plant, for example, while Ilex altaclerensis 'Golden King' is female.

The following plants require a pollinator:

* Ilex aquifolium: common holly.
* Ilex aquifolium 'Handsworth New Silver': female.
* Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Queen': male.
* Ilex altaclerensis: vigorous and frost-hardy species of evergreen plants. Good resistance to pollution.
* Ilex x altaclerensis 'Golden King': female.
* Ilex aquifolium 'Ferox': quirky variety with spines on the leaf surface.
* Ilex x altaclerensis 'Wilsonii': vigorous female tree producing scarlet berries, with a dense upright growth habit that will reach 8m (25ft). The young branches are greenish-purple, producing glossy, spiney leaves.
* Ilex opaca.

Self-fertile species include:

* Ilex aquifolium 'JC van Tol': grows to about 4.6m (15ft), with red berries and less prickly leaves than some varieties. The variety 'Golden van Tol' has attractive golden-edged leaves and the young branches are purple.
* Ilex aquifolium 'Pyramdalis'.

Growing tips

Buy plants when they're young, as mature plants don't like being transplanted.

Plant in late winter or early spring. Holly can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, but prefers well-drained soil. It can grow in the sun or shade, but variegated foliage varieties are better in the sun or semi-shade.

Holly plants are low maintenence. Prune in late spring to maintain shape. Trees respond well to hard pruning or even pollarding.

Prune out any green-leaved branches on variegated species.
Problem solver

If the plant produces few or no berries, it's probably because the plant is male. Or it could be a female plant that hasn't been pollinated by a male plant.

A poor show of berries could also be due to cold winds and wet periods during flowering, which deter insects from pollinating the plants.

Occasionally, hollies may suffer from root rot, or phytophthora. If this occurs, remove the plant, burn it and disinfect the soil.
[Source: www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plantprofile_holly.shtml]

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