Growing an Ilex Tree
Christmas is the time of year when most of us think of a sprig of holly nailed over a doorway for that special someone to be kissed under. Holly sprigs come from the holly, or ilex tree, which is native to southern Europe. Holly can grow anywhere it is warm in the world although it does sleep during the winter as do many other trees. It is a member of the evergreen family and is best noted for having small red or white berries. If you prefer an ilex that grows berries, make sure to get a female bush; the male ones do not produce berries. There are several varieties of ilex that can grow between fifteen and twenty five feet tall on average. While the ilex tree can provide a beautiful addition to your garden, like any other evergreen tree it may require pruning to keep it under control.
Most nurseries carry holly shrubs and trees that can easily be planted in your garden or yard. Before planting, have your soil tested for acidity. Ilex trees like soils that have some acidity in them. Purchase an acidity test that can be performed at home from a nusery. The pH level of the soil should be less than 7.0 on the test. If your soil proves to have a slight rate of acidity, then it is ready for planting your ilex tree in.
Dig a hole deep enough for the roots in a sunny spot. Break up the soil so that it can be well drained. Cover the roots well with the soil. Before covering, some compost can be added to the soil to help the tree grow better. The best time of year to plant an ilex is during the early spring season. Avoid overwatering the ilex.
For the production of berries, include a male ilex in your yard if there is not one in your neighborhood. Since the female ilex requires pollination from the male to produce the berries, the clerk at your local nursery will be able to tell you if the ilex bush is a male or female. Most bushes are marked with this information but in case it isn’t, be sure to ask so you can see your holly tree in full blossom with berries. Some suggested varities of ilex include: blue prince(male), blue princess(female), Nellie Stevens, and O’Spring.
Holly berries may be seen eaten by the local birds but unfortunately, these berries are very toxic to humans so you want to avoid ingesting them. Prune the ilex tree after the berry growing season. This will help keep the tree under control and also promote new growth of lush, shiny evergreen leaves the following spring season.
Image Credit: USDA photo, Wikimedia Commons.
