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Christmas
Top Ideabooks
9 Holly and Ivy Plants for Good Tidings in the Garden
Spread Christmas joy all year round with the gorgeous foliage and bright berries of these evergreen plants
Houzz Contributor. I have been involved all my working life with design, garden design, horticulture and garden retailing. At present I work as a buyer for a large garden centre in the south west of England where I live in the idyllic Devon countryside. My passion for small garden design and the lifestyle it brings has lead me to write about it on my blog, www.yardz.typepad.co.uk for the last four years.
Houzz Contributor. I have been involved all my working life with design,... More »
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Of all the traditional Christmas carols, "The Holly and the Ivy" is perhaps one of the most obscure. While the song dates back to 17th-century England, holly and ivy have been significant since pagan times, when the two plants had spiritual meanings.
Rather than ban their use, the early Christian church adopted them for Christmas decorations by changing the symbolism to suit the Nativity story. The tradition of using these two evergreens has continued up to present times, probably because both evergreens have always been very common and easy to obtain from woods and hedgerows.
The holly refered to in the lyrics is Common or English holly (Ilex aquifolium), and the ivy is English ivy (Hedera helix). Though still widely grown, both can cause problems in gardens. Besides the common species, a wide range of cultivars and species of both holly and ivy make good year-round shrubs and trees, while still providing festive foliage and berries.
Rather than ban their use, the early Christian church adopted them for Christmas decorations by changing the symbolism to suit the Nativity story. The tradition of using these two evergreens has continued up to present times, probably because both evergreens have always been very common and easy to obtain from woods and hedgerows.
The holly refered to in the lyrics is Common or English holly (Ilex aquifolium), and the ivy is English ivy (Hedera helix). Though still widely grown, both can cause problems in gardens. Besides the common species, a wide range of cultivars and species of both holly and ivy make good year-round shrubs and trees, while still providing festive foliage and berries.
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English Holly
Ilex aquifolium
Along with the Christmas tree, holly really conjures images of a classic Christmas. The tradition of using this evergreen is as strong today as ever. We use holly in our Christmas wreaths and swags, cutting well-berried sprigs for the best effect.
Though garden centers and stores sell decorated hollies wrapped and ready, as well as plastic imitations, why not consider growing your own?
Ilex aquifolium
Along with the Christmas tree, holly really conjures images of a classic Christmas. The tradition of using this evergreen is as strong today as ever. We use holly in our Christmas wreaths and swags, cutting well-berried sprigs for the best effect.
Though garden centers and stores sell decorated hollies wrapped and ready, as well as plastic imitations, why not consider growing your own?
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This is what we we think of when we "deck the halls with boughs of holly." It is native to Europe and widespread across the continent. It grows, reasonably slowly, to a 40-foot-tree, though it responds well to pruning and makes a very good topiary subject.
The colors of Christmas, red and green, could have originated from holly. Through winter, glowing red berries are held in clusters against shiny, spiny, dark green leaves.
Beware, though, plants are either male or female, and though they both carry flowers, only female plants produce the berries we cherish. Though the native Ilex aquifolium is the favorite at Christmas, there are other varieties that perhaps give more to a garden over the year. English holly grows best in moist, well-drained soil.
USDA zones: 5 to 9 (find your zone); RHS hardiness rating (U.K.): H4
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 40 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; red berries in winter
When to plant: Spring or fall
The colors of Christmas, red and green, could have originated from holly. Through winter, glowing red berries are held in clusters against shiny, spiny, dark green leaves.
Beware, though, plants are either male or female, and though they both carry flowers, only female plants produce the berries we cherish. Though the native Ilex aquifolium is the favorite at Christmas, there are other varieties that perhaps give more to a garden over the year. English holly grows best in moist, well-drained soil.
USDA zones: 5 to 9 (find your zone); RHS hardiness rating (U.K.): H4
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 40 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; red berries in winter
When to plant: Spring or fall
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Ilex x altaclarensis 'Golden King'
Through a quirk in naming, the 'King' is in fact a female. If you're after holly berries, 'Golden King' can be sparse in fruiting and may not be the best choice. But it makes up for its lack of fruit with its superb dark green leaves edged with bright yellow. Berries start a reddish brown color, then ripen to red.
It can be grown as a large shrub but easily makes a small bushy tree.
USDA zones: 7 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 20 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
When to plant: Spring or fall
Through a quirk in naming, the 'King' is in fact a female. If you're after holly berries, 'Golden King' can be sparse in fruiting and may not be the best choice. But it makes up for its lack of fruit with its superb dark green leaves edged with bright yellow. Berries start a reddish brown color, then ripen to red.
It can be grown as a large shrub but easily makes a small bushy tree.
USDA zones: 7 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 20 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
When to plant: Spring or fall
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Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'
'Argentea Marginata' makes a beautiful conical tree. Its cream-edged leaves are typically spiny and are flushed pink when young. It has rather dull white flowers followed by abundant bright red berries — perfect for Christmas decorating.
There is also an interesting weeping cultivar, Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata Pendula'.
USDA zones: 5 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 50 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; red berries in winter
When to plant: Spring or fall
'Argentea Marginata' makes a beautiful conical tree. Its cream-edged leaves are typically spiny and are flushed pink when young. It has rather dull white flowers followed by abundant bright red berries — perfect for Christmas decorating.
There is also an interesting weeping cultivar, Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata Pendula'.
USDA zones: 5 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 50 feet tall
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; red berries in winter
When to plant: Spring or fall
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Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Queen'
'Silver Queen' grows into a small, dense evergreen tree with dark green spiny leaves with broad cream margins. The young leaves have a delightful pink tinge. Its beautiful foliage and bushy habit make it an ideal low-maintenance hedging plant.
USDA zones: 5 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 30 feet tall and 14 feet wide
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; flowers midspring
When to plant: Spring or fall
'Silver Queen' grows into a small, dense evergreen tree with dark green spiny leaves with broad cream margins. The young leaves have a delightful pink tinge. Its beautiful foliage and bushy habit make it an ideal low-maintenance hedging plant.
USDA zones: 5 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 30 feet tall and 14 feet wide
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; flowers midspring
When to plant: Spring or fall
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Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Princess'
'Blue Princess' is one of the best bushy, spreading hollies. Bright blue-green foliage is held on purple-green stems. These dark leaves provide a great background for its white flowers, sometimes flushed with pink, that appear in spring. Abundant red berries follow.
USDA zones: 4 to 8; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 10 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; flowers in spring
When to plant: Spring or fall
'Blue Princess' is one of the best bushy, spreading hollies. Bright blue-green foliage is held on purple-green stems. These dark leaves provide a great background for its white flowers, sometimes flushed with pink, that appear in spring. Abundant red berries follow.
USDA zones: 4 to 8; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 10 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; flowers in spring
When to plant: Spring or fall
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English Ivy
Hedera helix
Ivy is only a supporting part in "The holly and the Ivy," whereas holly is the star. Ivy is mentioned in only two verses as being in the wood with the holly, but to gardeners the ivies have a lot more to offer.
USDA zones: 4 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Moderate to regular
Light requirement: Shade tolerant
Mature size: Spreads 30 feet
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
When to plant: Plant semihardwood cuttings in summer.
Hedera helix
Ivy is only a supporting part in "The holly and the Ivy," whereas holly is the star. Ivy is mentioned in only two verses as being in the wood with the holly, but to gardeners the ivies have a lot more to offer.
USDA zones: 4 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Moderate to regular
Light requirement: Shade tolerant
Mature size: Spreads 30 feet
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
When to plant: Plant semihardwood cuttings in summer.
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English ivy has two stages of growth. The juvenile stage of growth produces soft foliage that we see used in containers and hanging baskets as trailing plants. As the growth matures to the adult stage, it becomes woody. This growth produces clusters of dusty green flowers in autumn, followed by berries in late spring.
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English ivy has many uses around the garden — it's a great climber for those difficult, dry, shady situations and can be trained when young for winter hanging baskets. Ivy can be trimmed into shape at any time of year.
Its berries provide nourishment for birds in winter, when most other berries have been consumed. Though another use of ivy is as an evergreen ground cover, this has gone out of favor in North America — especially in the Pacific Northwest — as it can be very invasive and difficult to control. Ivy tolerates a range of soil conditions.
Its berries provide nourishment for birds in winter, when most other berries have been consumed. Though another use of ivy is as an evergreen ground cover, this has gone out of favor in North America — especially in the Pacific Northwest — as it can be very invasive and difficult to control. Ivy tolerates a range of soil conditions.
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Hedera helix 'Gold Heart'
This is one of the best variegated Hedera helix cultivars, with its small heart-shaped dark green leaves with pale golden centers — pink stems are a nice added touch.
USDA zones: 5 to 11; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Moderate to regular
Light requirement: Shade tolerant but will keep its color better in full sun
Mature size: Spreads 25 feet
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
When to plant: Plant semihardwood cuttings in summer.
This is one of the best variegated Hedera helix cultivars, with its small heart-shaped dark green leaves with pale golden centers — pink stems are a nice added touch.
USDA zones: 5 to 11; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Moderate to regular
Light requirement: Shade tolerant but will keep its color better in full sun
Mature size: Spreads 25 feet
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
When to plant: Plant semihardwood cuttings in summer.
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Hedera helix 'Sagittifolia'
'Sagittifolia' is a real stunner, with its arrow-shaped dark green leaves that take on a bronze tinge over winter months. As well as being a superb climber, it also makes a great ground cover for shady conditions.
USDA zones: 4 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Moderate to regular
Light requirement: Shade tolerant
Mature size: Spreads 12 feet
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
When to plant: Plant semihardwood cuttings in summer.
'Sagittifolia' is a real stunner, with its arrow-shaped dark green leaves that take on a bronze tinge over winter months. As well as being a superb climber, it also makes a great ground cover for shady conditions.
USDA zones: 4 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Moderate to regular
Light requirement: Shade tolerant
Mature size: Spreads 12 feet
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
When to plant: Plant semihardwood cuttings in summer.
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Hedera helix 'White Wonder'
With its heart-shaped leaves edged in creamy white, 'White Wonder' is perfect for brightening any shady corner. It's a medium-height ivy that can become invasive, though can be easily controlled with pruning.
Its beautiful young leaves make it a perfect plant for baskets and window boxes.
USDA zones: 4 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Moderate to regular
Light requirement: Shade tolerant but needs sun to keep variegation
Mature size: Spreads 12 feeet
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
When to plant: Plant semihardwood cuttings in summer.
With its heart-shaped leaves edged in creamy white, 'White Wonder' is perfect for brightening any shady corner. It's a medium-height ivy that can become invasive, though can be easily controlled with pruning.
Its beautiful young leaves make it a perfect plant for baskets and window boxes.
USDA zones: 4 to 9; RHS hardiness rating: H4
Water requirement: Moderate to regular
Light requirement: Shade tolerant but needs sun to keep variegation
Mature size: Spreads 12 feeet
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
When to plant: Plant semihardwood cuttings in summer.
Comments
franki7 My favorite holly is "Nelly Stevens"....and evergreen is hemlock...lasts for months after cutting! franki
5 months ago · Like
Deb Kapteyn Both of these plants are the bane of my existence in Seattle. All it takes is one holly tree in the neighborhood and you get little seedlings sprouting up everywhere. If you aren't vigilant you end up with a 4' tree poking through the top of the Japanese andromeda bush and you have to dig the damn thing out.
5 months ago · Like
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pursue Hollies are wonderful to clip at Christmas. We have planted many varieties and have found out that the deer like them. The only holly they seem not to keep trimmed is American holly. The variegated varieties seem to be deer favorites.
5 months ago · Like
writerwoacause Ivy has "fallen out of favor in the PacNW" (I'm paraphrasing) is kind of an understatement. Growing up in Portland in the last decade, we used to go on weekly field trips to pull ivy at local and state parks. this stuff is a foreign plant that was imported and now strangles trees and other native plants, taking over everything. It's hell on ecosystems, let alone what it does to cultivated landscapes (the people who knowingly grow it on their houses are nuts). I can't believe people are encouraged (ever) to grow it.
5 months ago · Like
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Ideabook published on Dec. 22, 2012.
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