Holly,
Ilex aquifolium -
Shrub
/ tree
Holly
comes in many varieties besides the familiar Christmas sort. The leaves
are always evergreen, but there the similarities between all varieties
ends. Some have smooth leaves - no prickles, some have prickles on their
prickles, some have berries on their own, some have berries only if
a partner is around and others don't have berries at all.
Hollies
are either male or female, only females have berries and usually only
if there is a male around for pollination, though a few types are self
fertile. Most berries are red, but some have orange or yellow berries.
The leaf
color varies from bright through dark green and many are variegated
with cream or yellow leaf margins.
Recommended
varieties are:
Ilex
aquifolium "Ferox argentea" - hedgehog holly. An unusual variegated
holly - green leaves edged with cream - that has spines on the surface
of the leaves as well as around the edges. Slow growing, colors best
in a sunny position. Eventually gets to 25ft high by 12ft wide, but
easily trimmed to less.
Ilex
J.C. van tol. A reliably self-fertile and the closest
to a perfect holly that we have, the draw-back - or not depending on
how you see it - is that the leaves are smooth without the traditional
spikes. To 20ft tall by 12ft wide, like all hollies, fairly slow growing.
Ilex aquifolium "Silver Queen"
- variegated green / cream, male.
I.
aquifolium "Mme. Briot" variegated green / yellow, female, red
berries.
Height and
spread:
varies greatly
according to variety, potentially to 25m x 8m (80ft x 25ft) though rarely
attained, especially by named cultivars
