Holly

Holly (Ilex) are beautiful evergreen shrubs of northern temperate countries, of which the most precious is our own native Holly, Ilex aquifolium. It would be difficult to exaggerate the value of this plant, whether as an evergreen tree, as the best of all fence-shelters for our fields, or as a lovely ornament of our gardens. No other shrub known to us may be so often used with good effect near the house and garden, and it will be clear, therefore, how much one should consider the common Holly in all its forms and ways.

Valuable as many varieties are, probably none are quite so good as seedlings of the common kind. Good seedling plants are the easiest to transplant and establish.

Grafting Holly

The art of grafting—most elusive as well as most curious of arts—should be carefully guarded against as regards Hollies. Hitherto the way has been to graft the many variegated kinds on the common Holly, and although we often see good results in that way, it is by far the safer plan to insist on the variegated and curious kinds being raised from layers or cuttings. It will perhaps take a long time to recognise the immense superiority of own root plants, but if purchasers inquire for and insist upon getting them, it will very much hasten progress. Old plants grafted are extremely difficult to move with safety, and, generally, Hollies and other trees are best not moved when old. It is an expensive and troublesome business, and often a failure. Young healthy bushes, seedling or layer, will in a few years beat old grafted trees—that at least is my experience.

Very often old specimens from the nursery live for a number of years, but their appearance is deplorable, whereas healthy, wellgrown young plants, from 3 to 5 feet high, when transplanted in May, are often beautiful from the first. No doubt healthy seedling plants might be transplanted at various times, but experience has proved that there is a distinct gain in transplanting Hollies in May; and if we transplant them carefully at that time we shall probably see good healthy growth the same year.

Using Holly in Landscape and Garden

As regards the uses of the Holly, they are so many in the garden that it is difficult even to generalise them. As shelter in bold groups, dividing lines, hedges, beautiful effects of fruit in autumn, masses of evergreen foliage, bright glistening color from variegated kinds—variegation in the Holly, unlike other shrubs, being quite consistent with health and beauty; elegant groups of the most beautiful varieties—every kind of delightful use may be found for them in gardens.

According to the late Mr Shirley Hibberd, who was a very keen observer of the Holly, in the selection of varieties it is well to bear in mind that the variety known as Scotica answers best of any plant near the sea. The variety known as Hodginss is the most free in growth in a town garden, being less affected by smoke than most others. The most fruitful varieties are foemina, glabra, madeirensis, balearica, lutea, and flava. The most distinct and beautiful of the variegated kinds are Golden Queen, Silver Queen, Painted Lady, Broad-leaved Silver, Gold Milkmaid, Watereriana, and argentea marginata. The following classification of Hollies is in relation to their several characters:

Other Varieties

Female-Flowering Hollies

Angustifolia, Angustifolia aurea pendula, Angustifolia medio picta pendula, Balearica, Broad leaf, Dark shoot, Fisherii, Flavo fructo aurea, Foemina, Golden Milkmaid, Glabra, Handsworthiana, Silver Handsworthiana, Heterophylla, Hodginsii, Latifolia argentea, Latifolia aurea, Lutea, Mme. Briot, Madeirensis, Madeirensis nigrescens, Madeirensis variegata Myrtifolia, Milkmaid, red berry; Milkmaid, yellow berry; Moonlight, Perrys Weeping, Picta aurea, Platyphylla, Scotica, Watereriana, Weeping.

Hermaphrodite-Flowering Hollies

Shepherdii, Smithiana, Silver Queen, Heterophylla, Hodginsii, Laurifolia, Handsworthiana, Lutea, Flava, Scotica, Balearica, Rotundifolia.

By far the best of all known Hollies is our native Holly, but there are Japanese and American kinds worth growing, such as Ilex crenata and the fine I. latifolia, which requires our most temperate districts to thrive.

Male-Flowering Hollies

Ciliata, Heterophylla, Latispina, Laurifolia, Tortuosa, Gold Tortuosa, Beetii, Cookii, Gold Cookii, Cornuta, Doningtonensis, Ferox, Ferox fol. arg., Ferox aurea, Foxii, Furcata, Ovata, Picta marginata, Golden Queen, Longifolia aurea, Longifolia argentea, Watereriana, Gold Few-spined, Silver Queen, Shepherdii.

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