Ilex 'Argentea Marginata' Holly 9cm / 2L | S251634
Ilex 'Argentea Marginata' carries Christmas tradition beyond December. Evergreen shrub with variegated foliage - dark green centres edged in cream-white margins, the contrast creating year-round visual interest rather than seasonal decoration alone. Produces mass of shiny red berries attracting birds whilst adding colour through winter months when gardens need it most.
Very hardy, tolerating British winters without protection, thriving in full sun or partial shade. The versatility extends to soil preferences: accepts most conditions excluding waterlogged ground. Can be pruned into various shapes - topiary spheres, formal hedges, natural shrub forms - responding well to shaping without requiring expert technique.
Holly's cultural weight runs deep: protective symbolism predating Christianity, Yuletide traditions honouring evergreen persistence through darkest months, pagan winter solstice celebrations incorporated into later Christian practice. This particular cultivar, 'Argentea Marginata', offers variegated interest distinguishing it from plain green holly whilst maintaining traditional form and berry production.
Supplied in nine-centimetre or two-litre pot depending on availability, ready for planting. Plant autumn through early spring, providing well-drained soil and reasonable light. Once established, requires minimal maintenance beyond occasional shaping. Growth rate moderate - patient gardening rewarded with shrub lasting decades, outliving most garden plants significantly.
Berries appear on female plants; this cultivar is female, producing reliable berry display when pollinated by male holly nearby (most gardens have wild holly within pollination distance). Birds value holly berries as winter food source, biodiversity benefit accompanying aesthetic appeal.
CARE: Water during establishment year. Prune late winter or early spring before new growth. Tolerates neglect once established. Mulch around base retains moisture and suppresses weeds.
DIMENSIONS: Eventual height 3-4 metres if unpruned; easily maintained at desired size through annual trimming.
