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Ilex aquifolium 'J.c. van Tol' (f)

holly 'J.C. van Tol'

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
RHS Plant Shop from £26.99 Sold by 57 nurseries

  • Other common names holly 'J.C. van Tol'

  • Synonyms Ilex aquifolium 'Polycarpa'

  • Family Aquifoliaceae

  • Genus Ilex can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs and trees with often spiny leaves, small white flowers (male and female usually on separate plants) and, on female plants, showy berries in autumn

  • Details An evergreen self-fertile, female tree to 6m tall, of broadly upright habit with dark-purple young shoots and almost spineless, glossy, dark green ovate leaves. Small white flowers in spring and early summer are followed by abundant, bright red berries

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Bushy

  • Toxicity Berries may cause mild stomach upset if ingested. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H6

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect North-facing or West-facing or East-facing or South-facing

  • Exposure Exposed or Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 4-8 metres

  • Ultimate spread 2.5-4 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 10-20 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in moist but well-drained or well-drained soil in a sunny position or partial shade

Propagation Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or early autumn or hardwood cuttings in early January

Suggested planting locations and garden types Hedging & Screens Architectural Cottage & Informal Garden Wildlife Gardens

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 1; clip formally-grown plants in summer and trim hedges in early spring

Pests May be susceptible to aphids, scale insects and holly leaf miner

Diseases May be susceptible to holly leaf blight

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Ilex aquifolium 'J.c. van Tol' (f)

holly 'J.C. van Tol'

Buy from £26.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £26.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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