{"product_id":"common-holly-ilex-aquifolium","title":"Common Holly - Ilex aquifolium","description":"\u003cp\u003eCommon Holly (\u003cem\u003eIlex aquifolium\u003c\/em\u003e) is the classic glossy evergreen of cool-climate gardens: a slow-growing shrub or tree that reaches 4 to 15m tall and 4 to 8m wide in time. Dark, scalloped leaves with sharp points hold all year, and pollinated female plants carry red berries from late autumn into winter. It makes an excellent security hedge, a dense screen or a stand-alone feature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA barrier nobody pushes through.\u003c\/strong\u003e The pointed, glossy leaves make holly a proper security hedge, tidy to look at and unpleasant to climb.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter berries.\u003c\/strong\u003e Pollinated female plants ripen red berries from late autumn, and the cut stems and berries are the traditional Christmas decoration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEvergreen all year.\u003c\/strong\u003e The dark foliage stays glossy through winter, so a holly screen never thins out the way deciduous planting does.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSlow, steady growth.\u003c\/strong\u003e It does not need constant clipping. A yearly tidy holds a hedge in shape, and a feature tree builds a dense, well-clothed form.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSecurity hedging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 1m apart in a single row. Holly is slow, so a hedge takes several seasons to close, but once it has, it holds comfortably at 2 to 3m with a yearly trim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScreening.\u003c\/strong\u003e In a larger garden where you want height, plant 3m apart and let the trees grow naturally into a dark wall well above fence height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeature tree.\u003c\/strong\u003e A single specimen needs room for a spread of 4 to 8m. Place it where the winter berries can be seen from a window or a path.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Common Holly in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Filtered sunlight suits it best, though it takes full sun if watered regularly. It is a plant for the cooler, non-humid parts of the country, such as the tablelands, the Adelaide Hills, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT, and it is frost hardy. In humid subtropical and tropical gardens it struggles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining soil that is rich in organic matter suits it. Dig compost through the planting hole, then mulch the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mulch and water on a regular basis until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. After that, give it extra water through drought periods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Prune gently to shape if needed. Clip a hedge after the berries have finished, since clipping removes them, and wear thick gloves. In some cool regions birds spread holly seed into bushland and it is listed as a weed, so check your local council's list before planting near bush.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Common Holly as tube stock: a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted. Holly is slow, so expect a small plant that builds over several seasons, with berries some years away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/best-hedging-plants\"\u003eBest hedging plants for Australian gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-cool-climates\"\u003ePlants for cool climates\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/how-to-create-a-great-hedge-and-keep-it-looking-sharp\"\u003eHow to create a great hedge and keep it sharp\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/evergreen-trees\"\u003eEvergreen trees\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill I get berries?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly female plants fruit, and they need a male holly within pollinating range. Young plants cannot be sexed, so we cannot promise berries. Planting several together improves the odds, and a male holly in a neighbouring garden can do the job.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs holly safe for pets?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The berries are toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and the leaves are sharp. Keep it away from animals that chew or graze, or choose a different hedge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow it in a warm, humid climate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe do not recommend it. Holly is happiest in cooler regions with drier air, and it sulks in subtropical humidity. Warm coastal gardeners will do better with another glossy evergreen from our hedging range.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790342914367,"sku":"ILE-AQU-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/common-holly-ilex-aquifolium.jpg?v=1792208494","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/common-holly-ilex-aquifolium","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}