5 variegated holly varieties to brighten the garden

Ilex aquifolium Ingramii: compact and cream-splashed

Cream-variegated, the Ilex aquifolium ‘Ingramii’ is a new little arrival in the world of hollies.

Interesting for its medium size for this type of shrub that typically grows much larger, as it will reach up to 3 m at most, this pretty holly captivates not only with its spiny foliage splashed with creamy white, but also with its new shoots.

These emerge with a pink-purple hue, on slightly darker purple-tinted twigs. The foliage will gradually develop, giving it added appeal. The white flowering in May, always discreet, is nonetheless interesting for its nectariferous and melliferous character, a small but not insignificant bonus for all Ilex aquifolium.

Plant Ilex aquifolium ‘Ingramii’ in partial shade, or even in full sun, in a hedge or border, but also in a container on a terrace and in a small garden. It is, like all hollies in this selection, perfectly suited to coastal or urban gardens, as it tolerates both salt spray and pollution very well.

Like all hollies, this highly ornamental variety needs a moist, non-calcareous soil to thrive.

→ Its little extra: its pink-purple new shoots.

Ilex aquifolium ‘Ingramii’ (photo on the left, Leonora Enking)

Ilex aquifolium 'Madame Briot'

‘Madame Briot’ is a very old holly cultivar, having been created in 1870 by Charles Briot, chief gardener at Versailles, but still sought after, with its ultra-bright yellow variegation, somewhat less common than cream variegations. This variety, proven in many gardens, is very decorative thanks to its green foliage edged with yellow along the entire leaf margin, sometimes even slightly variegated with yellow on the lamina. The leaves are particularly thorny and the berries that appear in autumn, bright orange-red in colour, remain on the shrub for a long time, delighting many birds, including blackbirds and thrushes.

It has a rather upright, even pyramidal habit, growing naturally to between 5 and 7 m tall if left unpruned, otherwise at 3 m, with a narrower spread of 1.5 to 2 m. It is perfectly suitable for growing in pots, as like other hollies, it grows slowly, which allows it to be kept in its pot for several years.

→ Its little extra: it is a female cultivar, producing abundant fruit.

Holly ‘Madame Briot’

Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Queen'

‘Silver Queen’ will grow to about 4 m tall and 1.5–2 m wide in maturity, adopting a very conical, erect habit. It grows slowly, like most plants in this genus, at about 15 cm per year. Its foliage is relatively small, 4–5 cm long, and it bears a grey-green colour widely margined with white. Leaves are not always spiny, sometimes only at their tips.

Flowering occurs in May, discreet and white, and its fruits are orange-red. Like other hollies, it thrives in shade or partial shade, ideally, but always sheltered from wind which it fears when young. It is hardy to -20°C once established. This very handsome holly has a place in a hedge that should be kept to 2–3 m, in shade where its variegation shows well, but also as a standalone plant or ornamental shrub in woodland. Provide it with fresh, moist soil! It is a male cultivar, so it will not fruit!

→ Its plus: brightening effect in shaded areas.

Ilex aquifolium ‘Silver Queen'</caption]

Ilex altaclarensis 'Golden King'

Here’s ‘Golden King’, a relatively thornless holly that will be easy to establish in the garden, even with children around. Like ‘Madame Briot’, it is an old selection from the late 19th century, this time Scottish. Its pyramidal form, its variegated foliage with golden-yellow margins is remarkable, and if you are thorn-averse when it comes to hollies, this one is ideal, as it has virtually no thorns. This variety is sometimes listed under the species name Ilex aquifolium, since it is a hybrid of that species. Height of 5 to 10 m if grown freely, with a smaller spread of 3 to 5 m, the Ilex altaclarensis ‘Golden King’ can be kept to a height of 3 m. It is superb with its glossy foliage, strongly variegated along the margins, fairly large (5 to 10 cm long) and in contrast with the reddening drupes that persist for many months in autumn and winter. The flowers open to a refreshing pale pink-tinged white in spring.

It also adopts a well-marked pyramidal habit. You will protect it in the coldest regions, as it is hardy down to -15°C. It is perfectly suited for coastal gardens.

→ Its little extra: windbreak effect, as it is very compact, its lack of thorns, and… it’s a female cultivar!

Foliage and flowering of Holly ‘Golden King’ (photo HQ Flower Guide)

Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'

To finish with this non-exhaustive selection of variegated hollies, shall we talk about a garden classic and certainly one of the finest? The Ilex aquifolium ‘Argenteo Marginata’ remains a safe bet among variegated hollies since the 1950s. It is a holly with substantial growth, capable of reaching 5 to 7 m in height after many years in the garden, or more. It is a holly that grows very slowly and very densely, which, for these reasons, is often offered for sale in nurseries in a stem-trained form. It can also be pruned into a topiary. Without pruning, it naturally adopts a conical habit, suitable for hedge planting.

It has many other advantages: fruit-bearing, which lasts on the shrub for a long time until March, leaves that are finely dentate, undulate and spiny that unfurl with an original coppery colour, then develop into a dark green to glossy grey-green, cream- and yellow-marginated. It also flowers between May and June.

Note: Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea Marginata’ is a female cultivar or sometimes hermaphrodite, frequently encountered under the synonyms: ‘Argenteomarginata’ or ‘Albomarginata’. It is indeed the same cultivar. A very handsome weeping variety, Ilex aquifolium ‘Argenteo marginata Pendula’ features the same coriaceous foliage marginated with cream and grows to 3-4 m in height.

→ Its little plus: it is a female cultivar, very fruit-bearing.

Ilex aquifolium ‘Argenteo Marginata'</caption]