Holly is still perceived here as a somewhat exotic tree that needs special conditions and treatment. Let’s take a closer look at this beautiful shrub.
Especially in North America and England, the green leaves and berries of the holly are used in many Christmas and Advent decorations, such as wreaths or candlesticks. Holly motifs are often depicted in various graphic forms, whether they are Christmas cards, tablecloths, tablecloths or dishes.
Holly (Ilex) is an evergreen or deciduous tree growing in temperate and tropical zones. The red decorative fruits, shining on the twigs like small beads that remain on the bush from autumn to spring, are perfect for use in arrangements.
However, holly is not just a shrub for use in cut ties and decorations. It also works well in gardens as an attractive woody plant, both in group plantings and as a solitary plant. Holly tolerates cutting well and can be shaped into living walls and fences. In addition to the evergreen species that are better known, there are also deciduous species that are also worth noting.
Hundreds of species
There are about four hundred species of holly. Some of them form bushes and others can even grow to the size of trees. First, let’s take a closer look at the already mentioned type of Christmas, which it is sharp-leaved holly (Ilex aquifolium). It is not very widespread in our country, which is a shame. This is a relatively hardy and tenacious shrub. The first sharp-leaved holly was planted in Bohemia in the castle park in Sychrov around 1880. This species is characterized by stiff, serrated leaves that are green even in winter.
Cultivars with variegated leaves, the edges of which have a yellow to silver color, were also bred from the original green-leaved species. Of the interesting cultivars, it is worth mentioning Bacciflava with yellow fruits, Ferox Argentea with yellow variegated, finely spiny leaves, JC van Tol with leaves smooth on the edge.
Most hollies are dioecious, and in order for them to set fruit, you must plant male and female plants together. The self-pollinating type, which produces fruit even after planting one plant, is a hybrid of the previous species – holly Altaclaren (Ilex x altaclerensis).
Another species that can be grown in our gardens is holly blue (Ilex x meserveae). It is also evergreen and its leaves are very similar to holly. You will most often encounter a cultivar Blue Angelwhich has dark leaves with a blue tinge. It’s good to know that this cultivar bears female flowers, so you need a male pollinator for it.
Another interesting species is holly holly (Ilex verticilata). Its fruits ripen earlier than in the previous species, already in October and early November. After the leaves fall, they remain on the bush and last until Christmas or even longer. In this period, they can also be used as a cut decoration for interiors. They are also enjoyed by some species of birds. This holly is deciduous, but the amount of fruit is very generous. After the leaves fall, the entire bush literally glows from a distance.
It is an interesting collectible species scalloped holly (Ilex x crenate), which originates from Japan. It forms very densely branched, slowly growing bushes of medium size. Small shiny leaves growing on dark burgundy twigs are densely serrated, non-falling, oval in shape.
How to grow them?
- Holly requires a warm place, protected above all from the winter sun, preferably in partial shade.
- The soil should not be dry and it is advisable to enrich it with peat when planting.
- Hollyhocks are frost-resistant, they should be able to handle temperatures down to -23 °C. A winter blanket of pine needles or leaves is recommended especially for younger bushes. Drying winds are especially harmful in winter.
- Before the onset of frost and the subsequent freezing of the soil, a thorough watering is suitable, which has a beneficial effect on the wintering of plants.
- In severe winters, holly can freeze, but after a deeper spring cut, it usually forms and regenerates well.
- A rather valuable feature of holly is its tolerance of polluted air.
- The cut tolerates hollies relatively well, with variegated cultivars, shoots with completely green leaves are regularly removed.
- Larger plants are more difficult to take after planting, so it is better to buy a smaller plant. Always plant with a root ball, preferably in the spring, so that the plants have enough roots by winter.
If you are going to propagate the plant yourself, arm yourself with patience – rooting takes quite a long time. You can take cuttings in autumn, another option is pruning and sowing seeds.
An interesting fact is that the plant grows relatively slowly, but lives to a great age, even up to three hundred years.
Beautiful, but poisonous
Many hollies are poisonous, and their beautiful fruits can cause unpleasant poisoning. Pay particular attention to children. Poisoning is manifested by fatigue, drowsiness and cardiac arrhythmia. In some cases, it can be fatal – however, 20 to 30 fruits must be eaten, which is basically impossible due to their bad taste.
Holly encouragement
It’s an interesting species Paraguayan holly (Ilex paraquariensis), which originates from South America. It cannot be grown here, but you can taste it. Its young lignified twigs are used to prepare the local specialty – tea, the famous mate. It has a great tradition in its homeland and has been prepared in the traditional way – drying over an open fire – for centuries. Mate contains 0.5-2.1% caffeine, tannins, theophylline, essential oils and traces of vitamins A, B1 and C. It has a pronounced stimulating effect, a peculiar, somewhat bitter taste and leaves a pleasant sweet sensation in the mouth.
About the author
DANIELA DUŠKOVÁ graduated from secondary horticultural school and then from university with a focus on horticulture and garden design. She enjoys both ornamental and utilitarian gardens and likes to connect these parts into one whole.
