The approximately 400 to 600 species from the holly genus are divided into three subgroups. However, it is primarily the European holly that grows in home gardens, while the Japanese holly is becoming increasingly popular.
What different types of holly are there?
There are different types of holly, such as the European holly (Ilex aquifolium) and its cultivars, the mate bush (Ilex paraguariensis) and the Japanese holly (Ilex crenata), which differ in leaf shape, color and possible uses.
What types of holly are there?
It is certainly unknown to many people, but the mate bush (Latin: ilex paraguariensis) is also a holly tree. The dried leaves are cut into small pieces and drunk as mate tea. However, you should not make tea with the leaves of the European holly; these leaves are poisonous, as are the berries.
Other species of holly are breeding variations of the European holly “Ilex aquifolium”. They often impress with their beautiful foliage colors or are particularly frost hardy, like the Ilex aquifolium “Alaska”. The varieties “Golden van Tol” and “Aurea Marginata” have leaves with a yellow edge, whereas in the variety “Argentea Marginata” this edge is white. The variety “Aureovriegata” is also one of the colorfully leafy hollies.
The Japanese holly – a variety in itself
The Japanese holly, also known as Ilex crenata, is related to the European holly, but is a very different plant. Its leaves are much smaller, so it looks more like boxwood. The leaves also do not have the spines characteristic of the European Ilex. It is very suitable as a hedge plant, but you can also grow a bonsai from it.
Decorative variants of European holly:
- Ilex aquifolium “Alaska”: particularly hardy
- Ilex aquifolium “Argentea Marginata”: leaves with white edges
- Ilex aqiufolium “Aurea Marginata”: yellow-edged foliage
- Ilex aquifolium “Aureovariegata”: colorful foliage
- Ilex aquifolium “Golden van Tol”: leaves with a striking yellow edge
Tip
If you want to plant a hedge of holly, then use different varieties. So your hedge is guaranteed not to be boring but bright and colorful.
