Holly trees

[smallblueplanet]

I just realised we've no holly around here and I like some real stuff for xmas. So how easy is it to grow and get holly berries growing too? I thought maybe I could plant some in the gaps in our (young) native hedge? Or in a pot?

[Flummery]

I've not tried from berries SBP - I think they might want leaving out in a pot of sand for the winter before they'll grow. However, my Ma in Law bought me one several years agao - it's variegated and has loads of berries. It came potted but is in the garden and gets the chop every Christmas, together with the bay tree, for Christmas wreaths and decorations. Most garden ventres have several. By the way don't be fooled by the names. I believe Silver King is a female and Golden Queen a male - something like that! You need to check if you want berries.

[Two_Sheds]

Silver Queen is male - that's what I've got

[gemlady]

Don't know what I've got but it seems to be in several places in the garden and growing well. Only problem is we don't get any berries on it. Suppose it's too late for berries this year but must find out which it is and get it a mate for next year.

[Comfreyfan]

Ours turn up all over the place in the garden courtesy of the birds! So I'm guessing it's quite easy to grow from seed.

[smallblueplanet]

Ah no, I don't want to grow it from berries - I want to grow it so it has berries (Aunty Flum needs glasses! )

[Two_Sheds]

Unless you have a self-pollinating variety, you need to plant both male and female plants.

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.

These 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, spiny leaves.
Ilex opaca.


Self-fertile species :

Ilex aquifolium 'JC van Tol': grows to about 4.6m (15ft), with red berries and less prickly leaves than some varieties.
'Golden van Tol' has attractive golden-edged leaves and the young branches are purple.
Ilex aquifolium 'Pyramdalis'.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plant...le_holly.shtml

[Flummery]

Ah no, I don't want to grow it from berries - I want to grow it so it has berries (Aunty Flum needs glasses! )

Ah, so I do!

You need a girlie then. Two Sheds' list should cover most of what you'll find at garden centres.

[Two_Sheds]

I just bought an Alaska (QD £2) so I can have berries. I've planted her right in the middle of all my boy hollies, so she should be well happy
Ilex aquifolium 'Alaska' - shoot

[BrideXIII]

I love hollies but we have rno room for them, however, as per tradtion, next weekend we will go up onto the downs with a bagful of pennies, and gather some of the stuff up there that grows wild, to bring in for Yule.

[smallblueplanet]

I just bought an Alaska (QD £2) so I can have berries.

Where's QD 2sheds?