2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
An evergreen shrub, Holly adorns green leathery leaves with its bright red, cherry-like fruits. But this beauty is poisonous. But how elegant the red balls look against the background of green foliage or on the bare winter branches of a bush covered with white snow "waist-deep". Holly's green twigs compete in Europe with mistletoe twigs adorning homes on Christmas Day
Genus holly
About four hundred species of evergreen shrubs and trees, unstable or hardy, are united by the genus of plants called Holly. Most plants of the genus are dioecious. That is, their male and female flowers prefer to live on different plants, forcing the gardener to acquire specimens of both sexes if he wants to grow beautiful plants with bright berries-fruits.
Holly
Holly (Llex aquifolium) is the most popular cultivated species, often found in the wild. Evergreen trees grow up to 25 meters in height and can easily replace a Christmas tree. Holly branches are used to make Christmas wreaths that decorate the front door of the house.
Leathery dark green leaves with a glossy surface hold on to the stems with short petioles. The leaves on the lower branches of the tree have a jagged edge with sharp thorns, which can easily injure a hand, even if it is an old leaf that has fallen to the ground.
On female plants, in the autumn-winter period, the white flowers turn into red globular fruits. The fruit is a drupe, inside of which there is one seed in the form of a woody stone, surrounded by fleshy pulp.
The attractiveness of fruits is deceiving - they are poisonous
Holly has many decorative forms, including:
• «
Golden queen - differs in a columnar shape and green leaves with a golden edge.
• «
Pyramidal - an upright tree, similar to a pointed herringbone.
Horned holly
Horned holly (Llex cornuta) is a slow growing species with a compact bush shape. Its leaves are prickly, rectangular in shape, which adorn the bright red fruits.
Holly whorled
The whorled holly (Llex verticillata) is a deciduous species, the red berries of which tenaciously hold all winter on bare branches. Young leaves have a purple hue, which is replaced by yellow in autumn - the favorite color of autumn.
Growing
Holly can grow in both sun and partial shade. For variegated species, a sunny place is preferable. Planting in areas with a warm climate is carried out in March-April, with a cold climate - in October. When planting, the root collar of the plant should not be buried.
Among the Holly there are thermophilic species, there are frost-resistant ones, but they require mulching of the trunks for the winter with leaves, straw, or other covering materials.
The soil for them needs fertile, rich in organic matter, moist, but with good drainage. During periods of drought, abundant watering is required, especially for young plants and growing in pots. In the spring, top dressing is done with liquid fertilizer.
Propagated by seeds, cuttings, layering, grafting on Holly.
Usage
Dense tall bushes with thorny leaves are great for creating hedges that reliably protect from piercing cold winds and prying eyes.
Holly is actively used in urban greening, planting decorative species in gardens and parks that have beautiful leaves and fruits not only red, but also yellow, orange, black.
Up to 4-5 years of age, Holly can be grown in pots exposed to the open air, followed by transplantation into the open ground.
If you want to give the bushes a certain shape, you need to pinch the stems in spring and summer.
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