Product description
Ilex 'J.C. van Tol' is an award-winning and exceptionally popular variety of holly, celebrated for being both beautiful and easy to manage. It features glossy, dark green leaves that are almost entirely free of the sharp spines typical of the species, making it far more pleasant to handle. Its most prized characteristic is that it is a self-fertile female clone. This means it reliably produces a spectacular and abundant crop of classic, bright red berries without needing a separate male pollinator nearby, ensuring a fantastic display.
This holly's dense, bushy, and evergreen habit makes it a highly versatile garden shrub. It forms an excellent standalone specimen, where its berried branches can create a stunning focal point, but it is also one of the best varieties for creating a hedge due to its spineless nature, which makes for much easier trimming. It has a naturally tidy, somewhat conical shape and is very low maintenance once established. Planted in sun or partial shade, it will provide excellent year-round structure and a vital food source for birds.
Please Note: When purchasing plants, please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only. The plant will be supplied in a growers pot. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves.
Holly
Ilex 'J.C. van Tol'
Ilex 'J.C. van Tol'
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Product description
Ilex 'J.C. van Tol' is an award-winning and exceptionally popular variety of holly, celebrated for being both beautiful and easy to manage. It features glossy, dark green leaves that are almost entirely free of the sharp spines typical of the species, making it far more pleasant to handle. Its most prized characteristic is that it is a self-fertile female clone. This means it reliably produces a spectacular and abundant crop of classic, bright red berries without needing a separate male pollinator nearby, ensuring a fantastic display.
This holly's dense, bushy, and evergreen habit makes it a highly versatile garden shrub. It forms an excellent standalone specimen, where its berried branches can create a stunning focal point, but it is also one of the best varieties for creating a hedge due to its spineless nature, which makes for much easier trimming. It has a naturally tidy, somewhat conical shape and is very low maintenance once established. Planted in sun or partial shade, it will provide excellent year-round structure and a vital food source for birds.
Please Note: When purchasing plants, please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only. The plant will be supplied in a growers pot. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves.
Give your plants the best start
Garden Plant Size Guide
Plants in larger pots can be multiple years older than their smaller counterparts with more mature root systems and foliage. This makes them able to thrive as a full size plant in your garden quicker than smaller alternatives.
The most common size of pot that garden plants come in are 9cm/1L/3L/5L this is in reference to the diameter at the top of the pot.
9cm potted plants still remain the most popular cost effective option though, they just may take a little patience to allow them to grow into full maturity once planted in your garden.
Plant specs, care guide & tips
When to plant
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planting and period of interest times are general guidelines and may vary based on your location and conditions. For best results, consult local gardening resources.
Instructions
Top Tip
To get the most vibrant and stunning golden-yellow splash on the leaves of your Ilex, plant it in the sunniest position you have. While it tolerates shade, the famous variegation will be less pronounced and the foliage will appear much greener in a shadier spot.
How to Water
The Ilex is very low maintenance once established. Water well in the first year. Prune in late summer if you wish to maintain a specific size or shape. It responds very well to clipping if grown as a hedge.
How to Plant
For planting the Ilex, Dig a hole twice as wide as the 3L pot. Add organic matter (like compost) to the soil. Tease out the roots from the rootball, place the plant in the hole so the top of the rootball is level with the soil surface, backfill, firm in gently, and water thoroughly.
