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Holly
and ivy are not just for Christmas
By
Joan Christie
13
Dec '01
THERE
are so many known species of holly, around 400,
most of them evergreen, and such a great variety
of leaf shape and colour, that you could plan
a very interesting evergreen garden using hollies
alone.
 Although
red is the usual colour of the common holly
other varieties bear lovely yellow, bronze yellow
and orange berries, but it’s the colour and
variety of leaf shape that attracts me.
One
thing does irk me about the holly family and
that is the confusion caused by the names.
Golden
King, a medium tree with spineless green leaves
with bright yellow margins and small white flowers
followed by bright red fruits, is female, whereas
Golden Queen, with dark green spiny leaves with
broad yellow margins, is male.
Golden Milkboy is, as you would normally expect,
male! So when buying hollies it is well to identify
the sex of the plant as both male and female
are required if berries are to follow.
Hollies
thrive in fertile, moist, well-drained loamy
soil. They will do either in full sun or partial
shade, so they would blend well with azaleas
or rhododendrons in a woodland setting, thereby
creating all year interest.
Silver
Sentinel is one of the most handsome variegated
hollies. It is erect in habit and female.
Many
hollies, as well as making an impact as single
specimens, are excellent for hedges. Ilex Ferox,
the hedgehog holly makes a sturdy low hedge.
It is an interesting plant rather than a pretty
one with its puckered leaves furnished with
short, sharp spines.
The
ivies (Hedera) are undervalued by gardeners.
 They
provide ground cover, growing where not even
grass will grow. They can clothe walls and pergolas
with eye-catching glossy or variegated leaves
in many sizes and shapes. Black, red, orange
or cream fruits follow the insignificant flowers.
Ivies are good, as well, for industrial sites
and will withstand severe pruning.
Evergreens
which cling to walls without additional support
are a boon and the ivies must considered the
finest of all the hardy self-clingers.
Hedera
Colchica dentate, the Persian ivy, is the finest,
if you are looking for bold, glossy, heart-shaped
leaves, and its variegated form will light a
shady wall with its creamy yellow leaves.
A
smaller leaved species is Goldheart. Paddy’s
Pride is another good one with pale green leaves
splashed with yellow. It, like Goldheart, is
capable of reaching five metres.
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