One of the most iconic plants of the Christmas season has a host of creative possibilities – in the garden and in your home. Here we tell you how to grow holly and offer seasonal decorating ideas

There are over 400 varieties of holly trees and shrubs (genus Ilex) – both tender and hardy, evergreen and deciduous. The most commonly known and grown is Ilex aquifolium, our native Christmas classic. This English or common holly is recognisable by its glossy, dark evergreen spiny leaves and clusters of blood-red berries. Variations include hollies with variegated leaves: gleaming dark green with flashes of gold and silver (such as I. aquifolium 'Silver Milkmaid' and 'Golden Queen'). Some hollies have uncharacteristically spineless, smooth camellia-like leaves (I. aquifolium 'Golden van Tol' and I. x altaclerensis 'Camellii-folia'); others, such as I. aquifolium 'Ferox Argentea', have margins with delicate-shaped spines. Holly leaves can be large or tiny; indeed, the box-like form of many Ilex crenata (Japanese hollies) means that they are ideal for topiary.

As well as scarlet, the berries can be amber, yellow, ivory or glossy black. The bare branches of the heavily fruited I. verticillata, a deciduous holly whose leaves drop to reveal a spectacular show of berries, look especially vibrant, making them a great choice for festive arrangements.

Not all hollies bear fruits, but some have male and female flowers on the same plant and therefore do. Other hollies grow in male or female form (except for I. aquifolium 'J C van Tol', which self-pollinates), and the female form only bears berries as long as a male is nearby. When buying a plant, check its sex; fortunately, one male can service several female specimens.

GROWING AND MAINTAINING HOLLY
Hollies can be grown as large, focal-point trees; more whimsical specimen trees; hedging to keep wildlife or wind at bay; or they can be clipped as you would with box. They are tolerant of most sites and soils, but ideally prefer a well-drained soil; if planted in full shade, some variegated varieties have been known to revert to plain green. Holly can be grown directly in the ground or in pots and containers. When purchasing holly, it is best to choose young plants as mature ones dislike being transplanted; plant them out in late winter or early spring. Although sometimes slow, hollies are otherwise an easy-to-grow, low-maintenance plant. Pruning to shape in late spring encourages good seasonal berry production in the autumn. "

TYPES OF HOLLY
• TALL TREES Ilex x altaclerensis 'Wilsonii', female, growing up to 8 m.
• SMALLER TREES I. aquifolium 'J C van Tol', self-pollinating with pyramidal habit; Ilex aquifolium 'Golden Queen', male, columnar tree; both to 6 m tall.
• HEDGING I. aquifolium, male and female, sun or shade; I. aquifolium 'Ferox Argentea',male, dense, prickly hedging; Ilex x altaclerensis 'Camelliifolia', female, good for formal hedgingor simple silhouette topiary in hedges.
• DWARF HEDGING, CLOUD AND OTHER INTRICATE TOPIARY Ilex crenata (shown), good male pollinator; I. x meserveae Blue Prince, male, dark-leaved, compact growing habit.

WHERE TO BUY HOLLY
• Bluebell Nursery and Arboretum, (01530) 413700.
• Highfield Hollies, (01730) 892372; visit by appointment only.
• The Romantic Garden, (01603) 261488.
• Welsh Holly Trees, (01994) 231789.
• Wreford Limited, (01794) 368155.

WHERE TO SEE HOLLY
• Brodsworth Hall, Brodsworth, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN5 7XJ, (01302) 724969.
• Chastleton House, Moreton-in-Marsh, Oxfordshire GL56 0SU, (01608) 674355; (01494) 755560. Elizabethan holly topiary.
• Fenton House, Windmill Hill, London NW3 6RT, (020) 7435 3471. Mature lollipop trees.
• The Savill Garden, The Great Park, Windsor, (01753) 847518.
• Buckingham Palace Gardens, London SW1A 1AA, (020) 7766 7300 (booking); opens end July.

WORDS AND STYLING JACKY HOBBS
PHOTOGRAPHS MICHELLE GARRETT
JANUARY 2007