No broad-leaved evergreen is more desirable the year around than English holly. It is striking in winter and summer; lovely in spring when myriads of small creamy-white, mildly fragrant blossoms appear followed by sap-green or olive-red new growth; and incomparable in autumn when sparkling red berries against glossy rich green leaves make the landscape joyfully brilliant.
Moreover, apart from its beauty, the English holly is a delightful tree for the home grounds because of its adaptability, tolerance and uncommon freedom from attack by fungi and insects.
Ilex aquifolium or English holly is a native of the British Isles, Europe and the Orient and has demonstrated its adaptability by thriving wherever the winter temperature does not drop lower than 10 degrees below zero in the eastern and western sections of the United States. Except for a dislike of drastic and rapid temperature changes, it is tolerant of and easily grown in a variety of soils. lt flourishes on the island of Corsica, in the Caucasus Mountains of the U.S.S.R., the Black Forest of Germany and in the mountain valleys of western China. It is equally at home in the dry shale of Turkey, the sandy loam of Brittany and on the rocky fjords of western Norway.
More than 100 varieties are known, some so distinct and attractive that they should be chosen in preference to run-of-the-mill kinds. With no thought of selecting the most striking or unusual, for this would be difficult to do, six kinds are presented here.
The first is a staminate or male form, incapable of producing berries; yet, because of its beautiful foliage and distinctive growth, it has great ornamental value and so heads our list.
Ilex aquifolium robinsoniana, known as Robinson’s Special, makes a medium-sized, columnar tree of great charm. Its deep green leaves are regularly armed with large, sharp divaricate spines giving it a twiggy appearance that, together with its compact habit of growth, makes it excellent for use as a hedge requiring a minimum of care. A profusion of small but conspicuous blossoms in early spring have enough pollen to fertilize the fruiting blossoms of fifty pistillate trees.
A berry-bearing holly of distinctive growth and unusual foliage is Ilex aquifolium smithiana. It has long, flat leaves with few or many spines all of which lie in one plane. It blossoms freely and, therefore, produces a profusion of large, crimson berries which last until spring. Because it is broadly conical and compact it’s ideal for plantings under windows where it can be kept 3 feet or less with little effort.
Probably the most beautiful variety is Ilex aquifolium ciliata major.
Ciliata major is a vigorous plant, narrowly pyramidal in form with large broad leaves 4 or more inches long, regularly spined and a deep olive green. Plentiful red berries appear brighter against the deep purple of the twigs and leaf stems. As a specimen plant or for accent in the border, it is ideal.
One of the numerous lovely fruiting varieties is the laurel leaved Ilex aquifolium laurifolia which confuses many because its sap-green highly polished leaves are as spineless as laurel leaves and have much the same shape. A compact, small tree with somewhat pendulous branches, it is an impressive sight with large clusters of flattened scarlet berries which ripen early in fall and hold their color into the spring.
A variegated holly is Ilex aquifolium aureo-regina, the Golden Queen, whose large oval leaves are characterized by an uneven band of golden yellow along the edge in contrast to the rich green of the major part of the leaf. The berries are a rich red as are the twigs.
Hodginson’s holly, Ilex altaclarensis hodginsoni, is a hybrid—a cross between the English and Canary Island species. It is a large, vigorous plant with berries frequently more than a half inch in diameter. The large leaves are sometimes oval though more often rectangular and stiffly spined.
These six varieties were chosen at random for their various forms, charm and use. All are hardy on Long Island, New Jersey, southern Pennsylvania and Ohio. Of course, they will thrive south of this tier of states. Specimens of each have been growing in the north Atlantic states for years proving their ability to withstand a vigorous climate.
It should be remembered that a male tree is necessary for fruit although the female or pistillate plant produces it. Both types must be planted within a reasonable distance of each other. One male tree will pollinate 20 or more female hollies. Both kinds have small, cream-white flowers but those that result in berries have a green knob in the center.
Planting Procedure
English hollies like moisture but do not like soggy conditions. A light topsoil, rich in organic matter, overlaying a porous subsoil suits all varieties. Though most kinds will grow in shade, they must have sunlight for really fine development. Morning sun is best.
Contrary to general belief, a very acid soil is not essential for normal holly growth. It is usually wise to pay less attention to acidifying the soil and more to keeping up the humus content. In the decomposition of vegetable matter an acid condition is created. If humus is present in plentiful quantities in the soil, it is indicative that conditions are suitable.
If you spend twice as much care on the hole as on the tree, the tree will take care of itself. This is not a Chinese proverb but is essentially true. When planting, dig a hole twice as large as you think necessary for the roots. Prepare a mixture of one—quarter sand, one—quarter peatmoss or composted leaves and one—half good topsoil.
Plant the tree with the top roots just under the surface of the soil, using the mixture for filling in the hole. Do not plant hollies deep lest they languish or die.
When three-quarters of the hole is filled, add water until it is ready to overflow. This will cause the soil to settle around the roots and drive out air.
Seasonal Care
Soak the soil in which hollies are growing once a week during the heat of summer. The meal of cottonseed, castor bean or soya bean is an excellent fertilizer. One handful in May and another in September, broadcast around each small plant and lightly worked into the soil, will furnish sufficient plant food.
To prevent alternate freezing and thawing during the winter and to provide humus and hold moisture, an organic mulch should be spread under each holly in November.
It may be of peat, sawdust, ground corncobs or any one of several materials. Put on evenly to the depth of 2 to 3 inches. It will be most beneficial. The mulch should remain on top of the ground; if it is worked in before it decomposes, soil nitrogen will be depleted.
Hollies planted in congenial soil and mulched each fall will thrive without pampering. Plant them carefully and then enjoy them.
